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JEWISH CEMETERIES, 
SYNAGOGUES, AND MASS 
GRAVES IN LITHUANIA 


BM 653 
' . J52 
2015 
Copy 1 



United States Commission for 
the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad 

2015 





















UNITED STATES COMMISSION 

FOR THE PRESERVATION OF AMERICA’S HERITAGE ABROAD 


Lesley Weiss, Chair 

Washington, DC 


Members: 


Ned W. Handler 

Bridgewater, CT 

Harley Lippman 

New York, NY 

Herbert Block 

White Plains, NY 

Warren L. Miller 

McLean, VA 

Tyrone C. Fahner 

Evanston, IL 

Jonathan J. Rikoon 

Far Rockaway, NY 

Emil A. Fish 

Pasadena, CA 

Harriet Rotter 

Bingham Farms, MI 

Jules Fleischer 

Brooklyn, NY 

Eric D. Schwerin 

Washington, DC 

Martin B. Gold 

Washington, DC 

Lee R. Seeman 

Great Neck, NY 

Brian Greenspun 

Las Vegas, NV 

Joan E. Silber 

St. Louis, MO 

Michael B. Levy 

Washington, DC 

Richard H. Weisberg 

New York, NY 

Rachmiel Liberman 

Brookline, MA 

Gary P. Zola 

Cincinnati, OH 


25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW - Suite 300 
Washington, DC 20001 
Tel.: (202) 254-3824, Fax: (202) 254-3934 
uscommi ssion@heritageabroad .gov 
wvAv.heritageabroad.gov 


Table of Contents 


IftAfJSFEg. 


I. Origin, Mission, and Development of the Survey.1 

II. A Brief History of Jewish Settlement in Lithuania.1 

1. Jewish Life and Jewish Cultural Sites in Lithuania Today.2 

2. Jewish Tourism in Lithuania.3 

3. Jew ish Museums.3 

4. Other Jew ish Institutions.5 

III. Overview: Jewish Monuments in Lithuania.5 

1. Synagogues.7 

Table I: Select Surviving Synagogues and Former Synagogue Buildings.10 

2. Jew ish Cemeteries.17 

a. Cemeteries in Vilnius and Kaunas.17 

b. Cemeteries Elsewhere in Lithuania.19 

c. General Site Descriptions.20 

d. Appearance and Condition.20 

e. Gravestones and Memorial Markers.21 

f. Structures.22 

g. Current Use.22 

h. Cemetery Care and Restoration.23 

i. Additional Information.23 

3. Holocaust Sites in Lithuania.24 

a. Paneriai.24 

b. Ninth Fort.24 

c. Other Holocaust Sites.25 

Table II: Jew ish Cemeteries by District and Local Population.31 

Table III: Signage, Walls, and Gates at Cemeteries.37 

Table IV: Area of Lithuanian Jewish Cemetery Sites and Condition of Stones 

by Municipality.48 

Table V: Ow nership and Use of Structures w ithin Lithuanian Jew ish Cemetery 

Sites by Municipality.54 

List of Holocaust Mass Grave Sites in Lithuania.61 

APPENDIX I: CONTACT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.67 

APPENDIX II: SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY.70 
































Acknowledgements 

This report is based on data gathered during a survey conducted in 2001 through 2003 but 
adds subsequent information as well. Yaacov Gurin directed the survey with the 
participation of Larisa Dubianskaja, Viktorija Jagniatinskaja, Aleksandras Kaganovicius, 
Davidas Kocas, Helidor Sienkievic, and Aleksandr Skulov. Samuel D. Gruber drafted 
this report, which was finalized by Jeffrey L. Farrow, Katrina A. Krzysztofiak, and Sarah 
Roosa. 

The Commission gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the late Dr. Simonas 
Alperavicius, then Chair of the Jewish Communities of Lithuania, and Yosif Levinson, 
then Vice-Chair and the head of the Commission for Maintenance of Jewish Cemeteries 
and Sites of Massacre. Thanks are also expressed to Ruth Ellen Gruber for providing 
updates and photographs, and to Michael Ellis, Vanessa Flyer, Saul Issroff, Bruce Kahn, 
and Rachel Kostanian. 

We mourn the death of Dr. Alperavicius in March 2014. 


Front cover picture: Kalvarija Beit Midrash 


Library of Congress 



201 5 


370315 

















April 23, 2015 


Message from the Chair 


One of the principal missions that United States law assigns the Commission for the 
Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad is to identify and report on cemeteries, 
monuments, and historic buildings in Central and Eastern Europe associated with the 
cultural heritage of U.S. citizens, especially endangered sites. 

The Congress and the President were prompted to establish the Commission because of 
the special problem faced by Jewish sites in the region. The populations that had once 
cared for the properties were annihilated during the Holocaust. The atheistic Communist 
Party dictatorships that succeeded the Nazis throughout most of the region were 
insensitive to American Jewish concerns about preservation of the sites. Properties were 
converted to other uses or encroached upon by development. Natural deterioration was 
not counteracted. Vandalism often went unchecked. 

This report identifies and discusses Jewish cemeteries, synagogues, and mass gravesites 
in the Republic of Lithuania. I hope that the report will encourage preservation efforts 
and assist American Jews of Lithuanian descent to connect with the last remnants of their 
heritage in Lithuania. 

The Commission is also required by U.S. law to seek assurances from the governments of 
the region regarding the protection and preservation of these cultural heritage properties. 

I am pleased to note that the governments of the United States and Lithuania entered into 
a Commission-negotiated agreement regarding the protection and preservation of certain 
cultural properties in 2002. The agreement covers the sites identified in this report. 


Lesley Weiss 
Chair 































JEWISH CEMETERIES, 
SYNAGOGUES, AND MASS GRAVES 

IN LITHUANIA 


A report on a survey for the U.S. Commission for the Preservation 

of America’s Heritage Abroad 






I. Origin, Mission, and Development of the Survey 

In Vilnius, Lithuania, on October 15 th , 2002, then Commission Chairman Warren L. 
Miller and Lithuania's Minister of Culture, Roma Dovydeniene, signed an Agreement 
between the United States and Lithuania on the Protection and Preservation of Certain 
Cultural Properties. Article 5 of the Agreement provides that “properties of cultural 
heritage... that are of special significance shall be designated in the lists of items of 
cultural heritage. Such lists shall be publicly announced and communicated to competent 
federal, state, and local authorities.” 

In accordance with the Agreement and the U.S. law that established the Commission, the 
Commission initiated surveys in Lithuania to identify, inventory, and describe cultural 
heritage property of groups that, according to Article 4 of the Agreement, are “unable . . . 
to ensure adequate protection and preservation of’ such sites. 

In cooperation with the Jewish Communities of Lithuania, a survey of Jewish cemeteries 
and mass gravesites was conducted from 2001 through 2003. This is a report on the 
findings of that survey. 

A survey related to Old Believer Christian sites was also conducted. The Commission 
published a report on the survey of Old Believer sites in 2006. 

In the survey of Jewish sites, teams visited and described 399 Jewish cemeteries and 
Holocaust sites. Sometimes, a single site might be listed twice, such as a cemetery that 
also contains a Holocaust mass grave. Clusters of mass graves, however, are only counted 
once. Subsequently, information was also gathered about synagogues from various 
sources. 

The survey collected data regarding the location, condition, and ownership, etc. of Jewish 
cemeteries and Holocaust sites in Lithuania to facilitate the Commission's efforts to 
encourage Lithuanian government and private efforts to protect and preserve the sites. 
Records of the Jewish Communities of Lithuania were used to identify the location of 
Jewish sites. A priority was placed on creating an inventory of sites that have been 
seriously abused or desecrated. 

II. A Brief History of Jewish Settlement in Lithuania 

Lithuania has a long history as a center of Jewish life and learning. Until the Holocaust, 
Jews had lived and flourished for centuries in the territory that comprises the present 
country. Jews trace their origins in Lithuania to the days of Grand Duke Gediminas, who 
founded the first Lithuanian state in the 14 th century. By the late 15 th century, there were 
already thriving Jewish communities. 

The Jews of Lithuania had an influence on Jewish society in Poland and other countries 
that was greater than their numbers might suggest. From the 19 th century until the 
Holocaust, Vilnius was one of the world’s major Jewish centers; renowned as the 


1 


“Jerusalem of Lithuania.” The culture of Litvak Jewry can still be seen in Jewish 
traditions worldwide. 

Lithuania’s Jews boasted a highly developed system of education and publishing based 
on two languages, Yiddish and Hebrew, and they also involved themselves in a broad 
range of international movements, from the esoteric and idealistic Esperanto movement 
to politically and religiously motivated Zionism. Among the many institutions in pre-war 
Lithuania were the Jewish Institute for Research (YIVO) and major centers of Orthodox 
religious thought and education, including world-renowned yeshivot (educational 
institutions for study of the Torah and other traditional texts central to Judaism) at Telsiai 
(Telz) and Slobodka (today Vilijampole). 

The great 18 th -century sage, the Gaon of Vilna, mathematician Hermann Minkovski, 
world-famous violinist Joshua Heifetz, sculptors Mark Antokolski and Jacques Lipchitz, 
painter Isaac Levitan, novelist Abraham Mapu, and scores of other creative individuals 
were bom and raised in this culturally fertile environment. An effort began in 2003 to 
place plaques at locations in Vilnius associated with the lives of many of these 
luminaries. 

On the eve of the Holocaust, there were about 160,000 Jews in Lithuania. Another 60,000 
Jews lived in the Vilnius area, which was part of Poland at the time. It was transferred to 
Lithuania after the Soviet conquest of eastern Poland in 1939. During the German 
occupation of Lithuania, which began in 1941, about 95% of these Jews were killed—a 
greater percentage than in any other community in Europe. Non-Jewish Lithuanians 
participated in the killings. 

Although Lithuania was part of the post-World War II USSR, under Communism, Jews 
in Soviet Lithuania benefited from a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than in Soviet 
Russia. In Vilnius, certain limited expressions of Jewish culture were tolerated. Still, it 
was impossible to sustain a normal Jewish community in Lithuania until the late 1980s, 
when a strong national movement permitted the development of a Jewish cultural 
movement as well. 

1. Jewish Life and Jewish Cultural Sites in Lithuania Today 

Lithuania became independent in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the 
1990s, it began to grapple with the facts of its history, particularly the periods of Nazi and 
Soviet occupation. Open discussion of events, practices, and issues was clouded by 
contemporary political meaning. It was clear, however, that failure to confront the past 
would lead to serious problems in the development of the new nation as a democracy that 
would be respected internationally. Recognizing this, President Valdas Adamkus signed a 
decree on September 7 , 1998 that established an International Commission for the 
Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania. 

In October 2000, a major conference was held in Vilnius on the topic of Holocaust-era 
looted assets. This meeting helped establish an ongoing effort to restore cultural assets. 


2 


Upon regaining its independence. Lithuania had dropped all restrictions on Jewish 
religious and cultural life. Today, there is a small, but vital. Jewish community in the 
country. It is mostly based in Vilnius, but there is a community of more than 400 
members in Kaunas, with smaller Jewish communities in Druskininkai, Klaipeda 
(Memel), Panevezys, Plunge. Siauliai. Svencionys, and Ukmerge. Many of these 
communities have fewer than two dozen members. 

Chabad operates an active center in Vilnius. There have been serious conflicts between 
the Lithuanian Jewish Communities and Chabad. but. with the exception of the temporary 
closing of the main Choral synagogue in Vilnius from 2004. these disagreements have 
not affected religious or cultural sites within the country. 

2. Jewish Tourism in Lithuania 

The revival of Jewish life in Lithuania has also attracted the interest of Jews in other 
countries, manv of whom trace their ancestrv to Lithuania. Everv year, more Jewish 
visitors travel to Lithuania to learn about their roots and to visit the graves of their 
ancestors or revered sages. Some have become involved in the protection and restoration 
of Jewish cemeteries. 

Vilnius is the prime destination in Lithuania. Most national tourism efforts have focused 
on improving access to historic sites and providing better accommodations in proximity 
to sites. Local tour companies have developed cultural tour packages. 

Jewish tourism can be divided into two main types—large group tours, including from 
Israel, and smaller “genealogy tourism" groups. Guides are essential because there is 
little information available for Jewish heritage travelers to facilitate travel on their own. 
There are few brochures or guidebooks, and (although this is changing) very little 
signage. Jewish sites at several regional centers, however, are being developed as tourist 
attractions and information centers. Recently, new online travel and genealogy resources 
can be found on the Internet. 

Jewish and Holocaust-related sites in Vilnius and Kaunas are well known. Some are 
marked, and there are tours with knowledgeable private guides available. A guide to 100 
Jewish sites in Vilnius has been published by the State Museum. 

3. Jewish Museums 

The Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum is the main Lithuanian center for research, 
collections, and exhibitions of Jewish history and culture in the country. The museum 
receives a small amount of financial support from the Lithuanian government. Although 
this is augmented by private contributions, the museum is chronically under-funded. 

This is the third Jewish museum to operate in Vilnius over the past century. The first 
opened in 1913, when local intellectuals established a Society of Lovers of Jewish 
Antiquity and a museum. Most of its collection was destroyed during World War I. After 


1919, the Society and the museum were revived, but the contents of the museum were 
nearly all destroyed during World War II. 

The second Jewish museum was started after the Soviet liberation in 1944 by survivors of 
the Nazi occupation. They extracted damaged paintings, sculpture, books, letters of 
famous Jewish writers, the diary of Zionist movement founder Theodor Herzl, and other 
valuable documents out of cellars, attics, and pits. This museum had a very short life: 
Soviet authorities closed it in June 1949, and its collection was scattered among other 
Lithuanian museums and archives. 

On October 1 st , 1989, Lithuanian authorities permitted the opening of the third museum. 
Emanuelis Zingeris, a young academic, was the first Chairman. (Zingeris later became 
the first Jewish member of the Lithuanian parliament.) 

The initiative for the museum came from the Lithuanian Cultural Foundation. Part of its 
current collection was obtained from the M.K. Ciurlionis art museum and other 
Lithuanian museums. The collection now consists of more than 4,000 artifacts, 
photographs, art pieces, documents, and books. Among these are ritual items salvaged 
from the Great Synagogue, which was dynamited by the Nazis and then demolished in 
1957 by the Soviet regime. These include parts of the original ark and reader’s desk. The 
museum also includes a section devoted to the destruction of Lithuanian Jewry. 

The museum has been able to implement a substantial number of programs thanks to 
international foundations, such as the Claims Conference and the Anti-Defamation 
League in the U.S., smaller donors, and foreign embassies. The Vilna Gaon State Jewish 
Museum has also established contacts with museums worldwide. 

The museum displays its exhibitions in several sites. These include a small but powerful 
exhibition about the Holocaust in a building known as the Green House at Pamenkalnio 
Street 12; the graphic depiction is required viewing for many students and for military 
units. In addition, a Tolerance Center was opened in 2001 in connection with the 60 
anniversary of the establishment of the Nazis' Vilnius ghetto. It is located in what was a 
pre-war Jewish theatre. Much of the funding came from the French and German 
governments. 

There are a few smaller museums with Jewish content in the country. The State Jewish 
Museum operates the Museum of Jacques Lipchitz (1897-1973) devoted to the world- 
famous sculptor in his native town of Druskininkai. There are also small exhibits on 
Jewish history in the town museums of Joniskis and in Kedainiai. The former Winter 
Synagogue of Kedainiai, administered by the Kedainiai Regional Museum, houses a 
small display of Judaica in its women’s gallery. 

There have been plans for a small Jewish museum in Plunge, where the Jewish 
community has often organized exhibitions. There were about 100 items for the core of a 
permanent exhibition. There has also been discussion of a museum in Kalvarija, when the 
synagogue complex there is restored. 


4 


In Kaunas, the house where Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara and his wife issued visas 
tor Japan in 1941 to thousands of Jewish refugees who had fled to Kaunas from Poland 
has been turned into a small museum and study center. It is located at Vaizganto 30. Most 
of the refugees managed to eventually reach Shanghai, China. 

4. Other Jewish Institutions 

The Vilnius Yiddish Institute is the first Yiddish center of higher learning in post- 
Holocaust Eastern Europe. It has an active program of research and study of Yiddish 
language and culture. The Institute was founded by Jewish scholars from the United 
States and Israel working with Lithuanian academics. It is a part of Vilnius University. 


III. Overview: Jewish Monuments in Lithuania 

There is a considerable amount of literature on the Jewish history and culture of 
Lithuania, beginning with detailed studies carried out before World War II. This work 
has been continued in recent years with studies of the Holocaust and its effects upon 
Lithuanian Jewry. Until recently, however, the study did not include substantial research 
on Jewish art, architecture, and cemeteries. 

In 1997. a photo exhibition was held regarding Lithuanian synagogues that drew attention 
to many of the surviving buildings. Studies by the Center for Jewish Art of Hebrew 
University in Jerusalem and by individual researchers generated considerable information 
on the state of Jewish sites in Lithuania, especially surviving wooden synagogues. This 
research came to fruition with the publication of the two-volume comprehensive, heavily 
documented and illustrated catalogue, Synagogues in Lithuania , published by the Vilnius 
Academy of Arts Press in 2010 and 2012. 

Perhaps the best-known Jewish site in the country is that of the historic Shulhof, a now- 
destroyed complex of dozens of connected Jewish buildings around a central court, which 
once was a hub of Lithuanian Jewish life. The complex was partly destroyed by Germans 
in 1941. After the war, the Soviets demolished it completely. Loremost among the 
buildings was the Great City Synagogue, a one-story, Renaissance-Baroque stone 
synagogue built in 1630-33, which replaced the Old Synagogue, originally built in 1572. 
The Great Synagogue was surrounded by 20 smaller synagogues, the beit midrash (study 
house), the mikveh (ritual bath), the Community Building, the “Strashun" Rabbinical 
Library, and the kloyz (or “Small Synagogue'’) built in 1800 and dedicated to the Gaon of 
Vilna (Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna. 1720-1797). 

Todav, a statue of the Gaon on the site of his house commemorates this lost center. City 

•' th • • 

officials erected the statue in 1997 to mark the 200 anniversary of his death. The Gaon 
was originally buried in the Snipiskes Jewish Cemetery. The Sarunas Hotel and Sports 
Palace was built during the Soviet period over part of the cemetery. At that time, the 
remains of the Gaon and a few other people were moved to the new Jewish cemetery in 
the Seskine district, which is still in use by the community. 


5 


The site of the former Shulhof is in the heart of the former Jewish quarter of Vilnius, 
where Jews lived for centuries. The Nazis used the area as the location for two ghettos, 

fL 

both established on September 6 ,1941. 

Today, plaques indicate the boundaries of the Small and Large Ghettos. The Small 
Ghetto (or Second) was located in the old medieval Jewish quarter and housed between 
9,000 and 11,000 people. Most were taken to the Paneriai (Ponary) forest outside Vilnius 
and killed during the approximately six weeks of its existence as a killing center, from 
September 6 th to October 21 st , 1941. The Large Ghetto, in a neighboring area, contained 
more than 20,000 people, many of whom performed slave labor. It existed until 
September 23 rd , 1943 when it was “liquidated,” and those Jews still imprisoned there 
were killed. 

The beautiful Old Town of Kaunas has a large main square with cobbled streets and 
buildings ranging from the medieval period to the 1920s. The area includes several streets 
that were once part of the Jewish quarter. On some streets, buildings have been 
beautifully restored. At least one building still retains a trace of where a mezuzah (a piece 
of parchment, often contained in a decorative case, inscribed with a Jewish prayer from 
the Torah affixed to the front doorframe) was attached at its door, evidence that Jews 
once occupied the building. 

The Ohel Yaakov Choral Synagogue of Kaunas, still in use by the Jewish community, 
dates from the early 1870s. A memorial to 1,600-1,800 children killed at the Ninth Fort is 
behind the synagogue. Three other synagogues also survive in the Old Town. One, at 
Zamenhofo 7 and 9 was restored in 2003-5 for use as a conference hall. (The structures of 
eight masonry synagogues survive in Kaunas as a whole.) 

Throughout Lithuania, many Jewish cemeteries and massacre sites are well marked and 
now have monuments as a result of a collaborative effort of the Jewish Communities of 
Lithuania and national and local governments in the early 1990s. These monuments are 
recorded and described in Yosif Levinson’s work, The Book of Sorrow (Vilnius 1997) 
and in the Lithuanian Holocaust Atlas, by Milda Jakulyte-Vasil (Vilnius 2011). A small 
number of former synagogues have been adapted for other cultural use, or are presently 
being slowly restored for cultural purposes. In 2013, the Jewish Community of Lithuania 
was working with the municipalities of Pakruojis, Kaisiadorys, and Mazeikiai to preserve 

V 

three wooden synagogues—those in Pakruojis, Ziezmariai, and Seda. 

In November 2013, Faina Kukliansky, the Chair of the Jewish Community in Lithuania, 
reported to the Website jewish-hertiage-europe.eu about progress protecting Lithuania’s 
wooden synagogues and study houses—14 altogether. All of these are fairly simple 
buildings that probably survived destruction due to their relatively nondescript 
appearance. Pakruojis synagogue, first built in 1801, is the oldest and most valuable. It 
suffered severe damage in a fire in 2009. In 2013, the Jewish Community secured 
140,000 litas (€40,500) from the Lithuanian national budget and 30.000 litas (€8,700) 
from the Pakruojis district municipality for restoration work. Moreover, a long-term lease 
contract with Pakruojis district municipality was signed in 2010. 


6 


1. Synagogues and Study Houses 

In Lithuania. Jews frequented community synagogues and study houses (singular: beit 
midrash , plural: batei midrash ) as well as private prayer and study halls, known as kloyzn 
(singular: kloyz ), often financed by a well-to-do patron or family. These latter were often 
founded in residential buildings, though sometimes purpose-built structures were also 
erected. It is estimated that before the war there were between 96 and 120 synagogues 
and prayer houses in Vilnius alone. 

Almost 100 former synagogues and prayer or study houses can still be identified in some 
form, but very few are used for religious purposes. There are only two historic synagogue 
buildings in active use by Jewish communities in Lithuania today, one in Vilnius and one 
in Kaunas. The other identified Jewish buildings are almost all in poor condition, or have 
been adapted to new uses and extensively remodeled. In 2010 and 2012. as previously 
noted, the Vilnius Academy of Arts Press published a comprehensive catalogue of extant 
buildings that once served or still are in use as synagogues, study houses, and prayer halls 
throughout Lithuania. Although the inventory does not include many residential buildings 
in Vilnius that once also housed Jewish prayer halls, the catalogue provides extensive 
documentation and condition descriptions of more than 100 structures. 

In Vilnius, the impressive Choral Synagogue (Pvlimo 39) was built in 1903 by 
Progressive Jews. It survived the Holocaust because it is located outside the traditional 
Jewish district. The building, with its mix of Romanesque and Moorish detailing, is 
typical in size and design for its time. The facade is articulated with a big arch topped by 
a Decalogue (Ten Commandments tablets). There are galleries for women, a central 
bimah (the elevated area or platform in a synagogue where a person reads aloud from the 
Torah), an ornate projecting pulpit, and a large domed tabernacle through which one must 
pass in order to reach the ark. The synagogue has recently undergone extensive 
restoration and structural repair. 

The Vilnius Jewish Community owns a second synagogue at 6 Geliu Street, which was 
for many years in danger of collapse. It was stabilized in 2014. 

The Kaunas Choral Synagogue is located on E. Ozeskienes Street. The design was 
presented in 1872, and the building was erected shortly thereafter. 

The small town of Trakai. which was the early, medieval capital of Lithuania, has had a 
large Karaite Jewish community. On one street, there are typical Karaite houses, a 
Karaite prayer house, or kenesa. and the small Karaite Ethnographic Museum. This 
museum and the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum are the only two official museums 
dedicated to minority culture in Lithuania. (There is also a Karaite kenesa in Vilnius.) 

In Alytus. there is an old. brick former synagogue located about one kilometer from the 
center of town, but only the shell remains. The Jewish community cannot afford to fix the 
building and the city does not know what to do with it. although it is noted as a site in 
local tourism information. 


7 


Synagogues in Kedainiai have been restored for local cultural use, and those in Joniskis 
are slowly being restored for use as museums. In each of these towns, as well as in 
Kalvarija (see below), there still survive two nearly-adjacent masonry synagogues, the 
principal remaining elements of what were once thriving complexes of religious and 
community buildings. The project at Joniskis received early funding from the New York- 
based World Monuments Fund but was hampered when part of one of the synagogues 
collapsed in 2007. The damage was repaired and the building has now been restored for 
cultural use. The synagogue in Marijampole has also been restored and is used today as a 
teacher training center. 

Several other masonry synagogues survive. They mostly date from the 19 century and 
are used for new purposes. Few of the surviving synagogues retain any Jewish identity or 
any modern signs or markings to indicate their previous use. One exception is the former 
synagogue in Zemaiciq Naumiestis (Neishtot-Tavrig) to which a plaque is affixed that 
reads: “Here until June 22, 1941 was the synagogue which was led by the world famous 
Rabbi M. Lesinas.” In 2013, however, there was public discussion about the possible 
demolition of this ruin. In recent years, a small number of commemorative or historical 
plaques have also been affixed to other former synagogues or prayer halls, including 
those in Panevezys and Pusalotas. In Vilnius, there is a memorial plaque on the building 
at 6 Gaono Street which housed the Fish-Mongers’ - Stitchers’ K/oyz and is now the 
Embassy of the Republic of Austria. Another plaque is affixed on the Feigelson's 
building at 3 Ausros Vartq Street. 

A complex of three buildings survives in Kalvarija, a small locality near the border with 
Poland, 150 kilometers west of Vilnius. There is a synagogue and a large beit midrash , 
with a former Talmud Torah school situated between the two. Ownership was transferred 
to the Jewish Communities of Lithuania in 1993, and the buildings have been undergoing 
fitful restoration since 2001. The site has attracted the attention of national cultural 
heritage preservation authorities and international donors. An agreement between the 
Jewish Communities of Lithuania and the local municipal council provides for alternative 
use of the buildings. Kalvarija has no Jewish community. The city obtained funds from 
the Ebelin and Gerdt Buceri ZEIT Fund (Germany), which were matched by a subsidy 
from the Lithuanian Department of Cultural Heritage Preservation. A total of $300,000 
was provided for the project which has resulted in the partial restoration of the beit 
midrash and some consolidation of synagogue ruin. 

The remains of about 15 wooden synagogues or study houses can be identified in 
Lithuania (see Table I). These are among the last of a type that was once common 
throughout much of the area that is now northern Poland, as well as parts of Ukraine and 
Belarus, in addition to present day Lithuania. Many wooden synagogues were destroyed 
in World War I, and most of the rest were destroyed during World War II, when the 
Nazis pillaged and burned synagogues. All but one of the Lithuanian wooden synagogues 
represents a late phase in the development of the type, and all are fairly simple examples 
of the form. Only a few retain any trace of religious decoration. Preservation has been 
widely advocated in recent years. 


8 


Most are in dilapidated condition and many are empty. Others are used as storerooms or 
bams. Several have been threatened with demolition, as in the case of the former 
synagogue of Rozalimas, where there was a plan to re-use the wood as building material. 
The oldest are in Pakruojis, Tirksliai, Ziezmariai. and Seda. 

Pakruojis was built in 1801 and is historically and architecturally the most distinctive. 
Restoration plans have been discussed for several years. It has not been used as a 
synagogue since before World War II. Afterwards, it was used as a school gymnasium 
and a movie theatre before being abandoned in the 1980s. Documentation of its 
appearance as a synagogue surv ives. 

The majority of the remaining wooden synagogues and study houses, such as those at 
Alanta. Joniskelis, Rozalimas, and Telsiai. date to the 19 th century, and are similar in 
shape and construction to ordinary houses of the time. They barely stand out among the 
surrounding buildings. The wooden synagogue (kloyz) of Plunge was built in the 1930s 
and that of Kaltinenai in 193 8. 

The Center for Jewish Art at Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been at the forefront of 
efforts to document the buildings and plan preservation. Still, because the cost could run 
into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for each building, the future of the buildings 
remains uncertain. 

In 2013, Lithuanian Jewish Communities Chair Faina Kukliansky reported that the 
Jewish community had to initiate the urgent dismantling of the wooden synagogue in 
Seda, which was partly mined and in dangerous condition, with a high risk of collapse. 
Intact parts of the synagogue building were placed in storage, to be used to rebuild the 
synagogue at a future date. 


9 


Table I: Select Surviving and Former Synagogue Buildings 
(Most of these structures are either ruins or have been substantially changed) 


City 

Construction Date 

Type 

Alanta 

Late 1800s 

Wooden 

Alsedziai ( belt midrash ) 

1932-34 

Wooden 

Alytus 

1911 

Masonry (brick) 

Anyksciai (Saltupio St.) 

1920s? 

Masonry (brick) 

Anyksciai (Shoemaker’s) 

1922 

Masonry (brick) 

Balbieriskis (new be it midrash) 

1939 

Masonry (brick) 

Birzai (Great Synagogue) 

unknown 

Masonry (brick) 

Birzai (Hasidic synagogue) 

1938 

Masonry 

Cekiske (synagogue) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Daugai (Vytauto St. Synagogue) 

1927 

Masonry 

Eisiskes (Great Synagogue) 

Late 1700s 

Masonry 

Jonava (Great Beit Midrash) 

Mid-1800s 

Masonry 

Jonava (Peddlers Kloyz) 

unknown 

Masonry 

Joniskelis (beit midrash) 

Late 1800s 

Wooden 

Joniskis (White Synagogue) 

1864-65 

Masonry (brick) 

Joniskis (Red Synagogue) 

1911 

Masonry (brick) 

Kaltinenai 

1938 

Wooden 

Kalvarija (beit midrash) 

1865 1 

Masonry (brick) 

Kalvarija (Great Synagogue) 

1795-1803 

Masonry (brick) 

Kaunas (Choral Synagogue) 

1870s 

Masonry (brick) 

Kaunas (Hasidic kloyz) 

1880 

Masonry (brick) 

Kaunas (new be it midrash) 

1860-62 

Masonry (brick) 

Kaunas (Neviazher Kloyz) 

1851 

Masonry (brick) 

Kaunas (Butchers' Synagogue) 

Late 1800s j 

Masonry (brick) 

Kaunas (Vaisip St. Synagogue) 

Ca. 1900 

Masonry (brick) 

V 

Kaunas (new Sanciai synagogue) 

1929 

Masonry (brick) 

Kedainiai (Great Synagogue) 

1784-1807 

Masonry (brick) 

Kedainiai (Great Beit Midrash) 

1857 

Masonry (brick) 

Kedainiai (Great Kloyz) 

Late 1870s 

Masonry (brick) 

Klaipeda (Cemetery Chapel) 

Early 1900s 

Masonry 

Krekenava (Vytauto St. Synagogue) 

First half 19 th century 

Masonry (brick) 

Krekenava (Great Beit Midrash) 

1880-83 

Masonry (brick) 

Kupiskis (Great Synagogue) 

1700s 

Masonry 

Kupiskis (Hasidic beit midrash) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Kurkliai 

1936 

Wooden 


10 




















































City 

Construction Date 

Type 

Laukuva {beit midrash) 

1928 

Wooden 

Lazdijai (synagogue) 

1830s (possibly) 

Masonry (brick) 

Linkuva {beit midrash ) 

1890 

Masonry (brick) 

Lygumai (Upes St. Synagogue) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Marijampole (Great Synagogue) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Marijampole {beit midrash) 

After 1889 

Masonry (brick) 

Marijampole (Hakhnasat Orhim 
Synagogue) 

1899 

Masonry 

Merkine (Seinp St. Kloyz) 

Early 1900s 

Masonry (brick) 

Pakruojis 

1801 

Wooden 

Panevezys (Torah Society 
Synagogue) 

1910 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Pasvalys {beit midrash) 

1922 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Plunge {kloyz) 

After 1931 

Wooden 

Prienai {beit midrash) 

1903 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Pusalotas (Taikos St. Synagogue) 

1913 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Raguva {beit midrash) 

1861-64 

Masonry 7 

Ramygala {beit midrash) 

Ca. 1900 

Masonry (brick) 

Rietavas {beit midrash) 

Ca. 1900 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Rozalimas {beit midrash) 

Late 1800s 

Wooden 

Salantai (Antano Salio St. 
Synagogue) 

1926 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Seda {beit midrash) 

1886 

Wooden (dismantled) 

Simnas (Laisves St. Synagogue) 

1905 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Skaudvile {beit midrash) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Seta {beit midrash) 

1893 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Siauliai (Traku St. Synagogue) 

Ca. 1800 

Masonry 7 

Siauliai (Frenkel's Factor} 7 
Synagogue) 

1914 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Silale {beit midrash) 

1910-1914 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Sirvintos (Vilniaus St. Synagogue) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Sveksna (Liepp Alley Synagogue) 

1928 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Telsiai 

1873 

Wooden 

Telsiai (Soldiers' Beit Midrash) 

1866 

Masonry (brick) 

Telsiai (Tailors' Beit Midrash) 

unknown 

Wooden 

Telsiai (Telz Yeshiva) 

1908 

Masonry 7 (brick) 

Telsiai (Yeshiva Mechina) 

1933-34 

Masonry 

Tirksliai (synagogue) 

1800s 

Wooden 


11 





















































City 

Construction Date 

Type 

Trosktinai (synagogue) 

unknown 

Wooden 

Ukmerge (Great Synagogue, 
Vienuolyno St.) 

1700s and after 

Masonry 

Ukmerge (Korah Kloyz) 

1889 

Masonry (brick) 

Utena (Great Synagogue) 

1862 and after 

Masonry (brick) 

Utena (Ezero Street Kloyz) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Vabalninkas (Great Beit Midrash ) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Vabalninkas (Shamashim Kloyz) 

Late 1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Veisiejai ( beit midrash) 

1927 

Wooden 

Vilnius (Choral Synagogue) 

1902-03 

Masonry 

Vilnius (ZavEs Kloyz) 

1817 and after 

Masonry (brick) 

Vilnius (Epstein's Kloyz) 

1915 

Masonry (brick) 

Vilnius (Pundik’s Kloyz) 

1882 

Masonry (brick) 

Vilnius ( beit midrash at the Green 
Bridge) 

1860 

Masonry 

Vilnius (Almshouse Kloyz) 

1880s and after 

Masonry 

Vilnius (Zarech'e Synagogue) 

1841 and after 

Masonry 

Vilnius (Khurgin’s Kloyz) 

1925 

Masonry (brick) 

Vistytis (Kalno St. Synagogue) 

Mid-1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

Zarasai (Great Beit Midrash) 

1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

V 

Zagare (Great Beit Midrash) 

1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

V 

Zagare (Petro Avizonio St. Kloyz) 

unknown 

Masonry (brick) 

Zagare (Trumpoji Street Beit 
Midrash) 

1800s 

Masonry (brick) 

V 

Zasliai (Great Beit Midrash) 

1909 

Masonry (brick) 

Zasliai (Hasidic synagogue) 

1908 

Masonry (brick) 

V 

Zemaicip Naumiestis 

1816 

Masonry (brick) 

V 

Zemaicip Naumiestis (beit midrash) 

Early 1900s 

Wooden 

Ziezmariai (beit midrash ) 

Mid-1800s 

Wooden 


12 















































Kalvarija Old Synagogue 


o 



Kaunas Choral Synagogue 


13 









































































Kurkliai synagogue 


Marijampole synagogue 


14 



































Vilnius Great Synagogue (destroyed) 



Kindergarten built on the site of the destroyed Great Synagogue 


15 


^ • 














Pakruojis synagogue (historic photo) 



Pakruojis synagogue (taken prior to 2009 fire) 


16 







































2. Jewish Cemeteries 


As part of the survey, 197 Jewish cemeteries were identified and visited in 46 
administrative districts. Only two of the cemeteries—in Vilnius and Kaunas—are still in 
active use for burials. 

Few Jews live outside of Vilnius and Kaunas. Where there are no Jews, there is generally 
no regular cemetery care. Under Jewish law. a Jewish cemetery remains a cemetery as 
long as human remains are interred there. Human remains can only be removed for the 
most dire reasons, and then only under strict rabbinic supervision. Thus, even cemeteries 
where no headstones are visible remain sacred sites. 

Despite efforts to clean and mark cemeteries by the Jewish Communities of Lithuania, 
especially during the 1990s. perhaps 90% could use restoration, including substantial 
work to repair or expand walls and fences, re-erect gravestones, and clean and repair 
stones that have been vandalized. 

In 2010. Lithuanian volunteers created the MACEVA project as a non-profit, non¬ 
governmental institution aimed at preserving Jewish cemeteries. MACEVA works in 
cooperation with the Lithuanian Jewish Community, the Lithuanian Cultural Heritage 
Department, museums, local governments, and various non-governmental organizations. 

MACEVA has created a virtual Jewish cemetery database, and has digitized gravestones; 
mostly those already protected in the programs of the 1990s. Still, so far only about 10 
percent of Lithuanian cemeteries have been fully documented, and this documentation 
focuses on the visible surviving stones and their inscriptions. 

MACEVA is not involved in investigating and mapping the original boundaries of 
cemeteries, but has become involved in cases where gravestones have been unearthed 
during construction on or adjacent to known cemetery sites. 

Though MACEVA wishes to help protect and preserve the physical remains of Jewish 
cemeteries, at present it lacks the resources to do so. MACEVA survives on donations, 
with one full-time employee, and draw r s in an annual budget of approximately 30.000 Lt 
(€8,700). According to Sergey Kanovich. “We have to be realistic with our current 
means: The restoration of four to six cemeteries a year is the maximum we can achieve 
provided that our initiatives are welcomed by volunteers on the ground." 

a. Cemeteries in Vilnius and Kaunas 

There are three Jewish cemeteries in Vilnius. Two have been heavily damaged and were 
built upon during the Soviet period. The third was founded in the 1940s and remains in 
use for burials. 

The Old Jewish Cemetery in the Zirmunai area near the Neris River, known as the 
Snipiskes Cemetery, is located in proximity to the Sarunas Hotel and Sports Palace. The 


17 


cemetery served as the city’s main Jewish cemetery from about 1487 to 1830. In the 
1950s, the gravestones were removed, and a stadium built on part of the site. A marker 
erected in 1993 explains that the location is a cemetery destroyed during the Soviet 
period. The extent of the original cemetery grounds is not demarked. 

After a building was constructed adjacent to the cemetery and plans were revealed for 
construction in the cemetery, the Commission pressed the Government of Lithuania to 
prohibit further construction in Snipiskes Cemetery. On October 2, 2008, the United 
States Senate passed a resolution that commended the Commission’s work and said in 
part: “the Government of Lithuania has allowed construction to take place at the Jewish 
cemetery...that desecration...is an affront to the international Jewish community, the 
people of the United States, and everyone who values religious freedom and ethnic 
diversity around the world.” The U.S. House of Representatives had passed a similar 
resolution on November 13, 2007. In August 2009, the Government of Lithuania reached 
an agreement with Jewish organizations on the boundaries of the cemetery and agreed to 
give it protected status; however, part of the agreement was that buildings already on the 
site would not be demolished. 

The large cemetery on Olandq, known as the Uzupis Cemetery, was also totally 
desecrated in the 1960s during the Soviet period. All of the headstones were moved, a 
large road (Dalildziq) was cut through the middle of the hillside site, and a new (non- 
Jewish) funeral hall was erected. The cemetery was established in 1830 by the Vilnius 

V 

Jewish Community funeral brotherhood after burials ceased at the Snipiskes Cemetery. 
The new burial place included a large mortuary in the center and tree-lined avenues. 

More than 70,000 people were buried at the site. Burials at the cemetery ended in 1948. 
The headstones were removed in 1964, and many were used as building material, notably 
for a stairway leading up to the city’s trade union headquarters on Taurakalnis (Tauro 
Hill). A relatively small number of human remains were also reburied elsewhere. After 
Lithuania's independence was restored in 1991, the Jewish Communities of Lithuania 
and the Lithuanian Culture Fund arranged for the dismantling of the Taurakalnis steps 
and other structures built using the gravestones. 

In 2000, members of the Jewish Museum staff began clearing part of the hillside closest 
to the main road and revealed the stumps of several dozen gravestones. Traces of the 
original masonry boundary wall were found further back in the cemetery. In 2002, the 
Jewish Community of Vilnius began restoring the original boundaries and clearing the 
site of later accretions. A memorial built of broken and dislocated gravestones, many 
having been used as stairs, was constructed in 2004 by the Commission and the Vilnius 
City Municipality Administration. 

The only Jewish cemetery in Vilnius now in use is known as the Suderve Street, or 

\/ V 

Seskine, Cemetery, for the Seskine district in which it is located. Inaugurated in the early 
1940s next to a Catholic cemetery, it is where the remains of the Vilna Gaon, transferred 

V 

from the Snipiskes cemetery, rest today. (Some Jews are also buried in the municipal 
Karveliskiq cemetery, in a suburb of Vilnius.) 


18 


There are five cemeteries in different districts of Kaunas—two (one without gravestones) 
in Vilijampole (formerly Slobodka), and the others in the Zaliakalnis, Panemune, and 
Aleksotas districts. The Aleksotas cemetery is the only active Jewish cemetery in Kaunas. 

Conditions range from that of the Aleksotas cemetery, which is maintained and where 
perhaps 75% of the several thousand original gravestones are still in situ , to the old 
cemetery in Vilijampole (Slobodka), which has had all of its gravestones removed or 
destroyed. 

The Jewish community has been able to legally maintain the largest of these, the Old 
Jewish Cemetery on Radvilenp plentas in the Zaliakalnis district, only since 1991. It was 
closed after World War II and from then until 1991, local residents of Kaunas took 
hundreds of stones for building material. Many brick tombs were dismantled. There has 
been considerable vandalism. Vegetation is also a problem. Thousands of stones, 
however, still remain in an area that covers about eight hectares. A number of notable 
figures were buried in this area. According to MACEVA, it is the largest Jewish cemetery 
remaining in Lithuania. 

The Aleksotas cemetery is entered through a gate at the back of the Naleksta factory, 
from an area that formerly housed Soviet army units. The cemetery is adjacent to a 
barracks, across a railroad track, but is physically separated from the buildings by a 
fence. The cemetery has almost 2,000 burial plots. It is a State Protected Heritage site. 

The gravestones and markers are in generally good condition. There has been some minor 
vandalism, but relatively little defacement or damage to the gravestones. Names are 
inscribed in both Yiddish and Lithuanian. The newer stones often have photos of the 
deceased or the likeness carved into the stone. A memorial to the people who died in the 
Kaunas (Kovno) Ghetto during the Holocaust is at one end. Nearby are the century-old 
graves of a rabbi and his son. 

According to Sergey Kanovich, MACEVA's founder, “The preservation process [of these 
cemeteries] is moving rather slowly, and any progress that is made is only due to the 
intervention of the State Heritage Department. Authorities are not only lacking funds; 
they mainly lack understanding that this is an issue of common heritage and history, 
something which they should be proud of." 

b. Cemeteries Elsewhere in Lithuania 

The situation that is common at many cemeteries throughout the country can be seen and 
understood at Kalvarija. On the one hand, one sees several dozen remaining upright 
gravestones fenced-in and in relatively good condition, with an ohel (a structure built 
over the grave of a rabbi) that was probably erected in the 1920s. The low fence around 
this area is for marking, not security, and there is a gate. Inside this enclosure, there is a 
stone monument identifying the site as an old Jewish cemetery. Other sections of the 
cemetery, however, are not included within the fenced area and have been cleared of 
gravestones or built over. 


19 


The surviving gravestones can be read. Most date from the late 19 th century. The Hebrew 
inscriptions include names. The cemetery probably extended to the nearby brook and a 
nearby German Lutheran cemetery, also abandoned. Much of the land is now an open 
field, with a few pieces of Jewish gravestones jutting out from the ground. 

At the time of the survey, several inhabited barracks-like buildings occupied a large part 
of the cemetery. A large, multi-hole latrine is situated near the buildings, just a few feet 
from the cemetery fence and within the cemetery's boundaries. The buildings apparently 
were erected in the 1990s—after the fence was constructed. 

A summary of the conditions of the 197 Jewish cemeteries that this survey identified in 
modem Lithuania follows. 

c. General Site Descriptions 

Most Lithuanian Jewish cemeteries date from the 19 and 20 centuries, with nine 
having stones with legible dates from the 18 th century. 

The majority (128, or 65%) are located in or near towns of under 5,000 residents, with 46 
(23%) of these located in the vicinity of towns with fewer than 1,000. Roughly half (96) 
are within towns, 16% (32) are in suburban areas, and the remaining third (63) are in 
mral areas. 

Eighty percent (158) are in or near towns with no Jewish population, and only Vilnius 
and Kaunas, where nine cemeteries are located, have more than 100 Jewish residents. 
Most of the cemeteries (176, or 89%) are isolated from other cemeteries. Only the Jewish 
section of the Karveliskip Cemetery in Vilnius is part of a municipal cemetery. Thirteen 
Jewish cemeteries are near other cemeteries. 

When the field survey for this report was conducted, the majority of Jewish cemeteries 
were marked, often in more than one language. Eighty percent were marked in 
Lithuanian and seventy-six percent were marked in Yiddish. Eleven were marked with 
signs in Hebrew and three were marked by Jewish symbols. Thirty-three (17%) were not 
marked. 

Four cemeteries (Smeliu St. Cemetery in Alytus, a cemetery in the former market in 
Luokiai, a destroyed cemetery in Laukava. and the Jaunimas Hill Cemetery in Palanga) 
have had all of their gravestones removed and are unmarked. All four are located in 
towns with another Jewish cemetery, so the stones may have been moved to the newer 
Jewish cemetery in town. 

d. Appearance and Condition 

A significant number of cemeteries have had tombstones removed or relocated within the 
country. Twenty-five (13%) have had all of their tombstones removed. Thirty-eight 
(19%) have fewer than 40 tombstones; twelve of these have fewer than 20. Nine have 


20 


more than 500 gravestones. The Seskine cemetery in Vilnius and the Zalniakalnis 
cemetery in Kaunas have the most, each with 5,000 or more. 

At the time of the survey, all but six of the cemeteries had stones that were toppled or 
broken. Fifty-three cemeteries had fewer than 25% of their stones damaged, 55 had 25- 
50% damaged, and 49 had 50-75% damaged. Six cemeteries (the Kauno Street Cemetery 
in Zarasai. the Jewish sections in the Saltoniskes and Karveliskip municipal cemeteries in 
Vilnius, the cemeteries in Vaskai and Ignalina, and the Zalniakalnis cemetery in Kaunas) 
have more than 75% of their stones toppled or broken. 

In most cases where stones have been removed, the location of the stones is not known. 

In five cases, however, it is. Stones from the Snipiskes, Uzupis, Saltoniskes, and 
Karveliskiq cemeteries in Vilnius have been moved to other Jewish cemeteries, mostly to 

V y 

the Seskine cemetery. Stones removed from the Jewish cemetery in Svencionys were 
used as building material for a stable. 

Vegetation is a problem for most cemeteries. At the time of this survey, overgrown 
vegetation was damaging gravestones in eight cemeteries. These are Dauglaukis, 
Grinkiskis, Baisogala, Nemaksiai, Siaulenai, Seduva, Zeimelis, and Liubavas. 

Drainage is a problem for a few cemeteries. The Daugai cemetery and the Utena 
cemetery in Siliniai Forest have seasonal problems with drainage. Four cemeteries have 
constant drainage problems. Of these, three—Zeimelis, Vandziogala, and Balsiaire—are 
surrounded by swampland, which prevents access and, in the case of the Zeimelis, 
contributes to a situation of severe degradation. In addition to being threatened by 
vegetation, the fourth cemetery, Baisogala, was partially underwater due to a dam. and 
stones were rapidly disappearing. 

e. Gravestones and Memorial Markers 

The majority of the stones remaining in these cemeteries are granite, but there are also 
gravestones made of slate, and occasionally of marble, limestone, sandstone, or iron. It is 
very likely that, in most cemeteries, many gravestones made of more valuable stone, 
especially marble, have been stolen. Most of the cemeteries (142, or 72%) have 

V 

tombstones with traces of painting on their surfaces. Five (Vilkija, Seskine and 
Karveliskip in Vilnius, and Zaliakalnis and Aleksotas in Kaunas) have stones with 
portraits. 

At the time of the survey, 13 cemeteries contained monuments in memory of Holocaust 
victims. These were Aleksotas, Zaliakalnis and the new and old Vilijampole cemeteries 
in Kaunas, Seskine in Vilnius, Kretinga, Klaipeda. Daugai, Naumiestis, Upyna, 
Butrimonys, Kudirkos Naumiestis, and Kretinag. Four of these also contain mass graves. 
The Medziotoju Street cemetery in Alytus includes a marked mass grave. The Seskine 
cemetery in Vilnius has monuments to Jewish soldiers and pogrom victims. There are 
approximately 200 known Holocaust mass graves in Lithuania, all of them now marked. 


21 


f. Structures 


The Seskine (Vilnius) and Aleksotas (Kaunas) cemeteries have pre-burial houses. The 
pre-burial house in Seskine contains a tahara (table). The Aleksotas cemetery also 
contains an ohel, as do the cemeteries in Kalvarija and Klaipeda. There is a well in the 
Jubarkas cemetery. 

g. Current Use 

The vast majority of the cemeteries (185, or 94%) are controlled by municipal 
governments. At the time of the survey, the national Jewish organization owned seven 
outside of Vilnius and Kaunas—Paberze, Nemecine, Maisogala, Vievis, Trakai, 

Rudiskes, and Aukstadvaris. Both cemeteries in Utena (one on the west side and one in 
the Siliniai Forest) were controlled by individuals and were in commercial zones. 

Most cemeteries (171, or 87%) are neither used for new burials nor for other purposes. At 
the time of the survey, nine were recreation areas and five were occupied by residential 
buildings. Five cemeteries (the two Utena cemeteries, Smeliu St. in Alytus, Uzupis in 
Vilnius, and the old Vilijampole cemetery in Kaunas) were used for commercial or 
industrial purposes. For instance, the Smeliu Street cemetery in Alytus was a storage 
area. The Utena cemetery in the Siliniai Forest was a garbage dump, as was the Liskava 
cemetery. The cemeteries in Seduva and Salantai were pastures. 

Residential zones surround two-thirds of the cemeteries (131), while just over a quarter 
(53, or 27%) are surrounded by farmland. Fifteen are near commercial or industrial areas 
and three are near parks. Eighteen are surrounded by areas used for other purposes, for 
instance, the cemetery in Vievis is adjacent to a highway. A road crosses the cemetery in 
Dukstas. All of the gravestones there have been removed. 

Although pre-World War II size information was not available for many of the 
cemeteries, records do show that boundaries of at least 31 are smaller today than before. 

It is often difficult to ascertain original boundaries. Twelve of the 31 cemeteries (39%) 
were reduced in size due to roads, and another twelve were reduced because of 
commercial development. Six (19%) were reduced because of agriculture, and five (16%) 
because of housing (two of these also for schools). Two cemeteries were partly 
incorporated into parks. 

Survey responses suggest that very few (four, or 2%) of the cemeteries are visited often. 
These are two cemeteries in Zarasai, Seskine (Vilnius), and the Kaunas Aleksota 
cemetery. At the time of the survey, 26 cemeteries were virtually unknown and never 
visited. In fact, only the survey responses for the Aleksotas cemetery in Kaunas and the 
Seskine cemetery in Vilnius (both cities with Jewish populations) indicated a local 
interest. At the time of the survey, very few tours visited the cemeteries. Those that did 
mostly visited the ones in Vilnius and Kaunas, although the Vilna Gaon Jewish Museum 


22 


and several private tourist agencies, guides and organizations, as well as genealogy 
groups, now arrange tours to other localities. 

h. Cemetery Care and Restoration 

By the time of the surv ey, the vast majority of cemeteries (154, or 78%) had been 
vandalized since World War II, and at least 26 since 1990. At least 26 cemeteries had 
been vandalized after being restored. At least 30 cemeteries, however, had been free of 
vandalism during the 10 years prior to the surv ey. 

Most cemeteries had received some kind of maintenance, even if only the clearing of 
vegetation—150 (76%) have been at least occasionally cleared. Fallen gravestones had 
been re-erected in 66 cemeteries (34%). Stones were cleaned in 66 as well. Thirty-six had 
some repair to their walls. Thirteen had gravestones repaired. 

Most of the restoration before the survey was carried out took place in the early 1990s. In 
most cases, work was done by municipal authorities. Occasionally, they were assisted by 
Lithuanian Jewish groups. Such groups had worked in 12 cemeteries by 2004. The 
Seskine cemetery in Vilnius has also received assistance from regional or national 
authorities and from Jewish individuals, from abroad as well as from Lithuania. Work in 
Moletai and the two Utena cemeteries was carried out by individuals or groups of non- 
Jewish origin. The old Vilijampole cemetery in Kaunas has been cared for by Lithuanian 
and non-Lithuanian Jewish groups. 

Despite these efforts, few of the cemeteries at the time of the survey were receiving 
regular maintenance. Data indicated that only 11 received regular care, and only three of 
these had regular caretakers. Forty cemeteries (20%) received no care. The majority (132, 
or 67%) received only occasional clearing. 

At the time of the survey, the three cemeteries with regular caretakers were Radviliskes, 
Seskine (Vilnius), and Aleksotas (Kaunas). The caretakers were paid at least in part by 
the government. In the case of Seskine. part of the payment was provided by a Jewish 
congregation. 

i. Additional Information 

At least 84 cemeteries appeared to be in serious need of care. Some of these had been 
extremely neglected when inspected during the survey. Despite efforts by the Jewish 
community, the MACEVA volunteer group and others, the situation is believed to remain 
about the same today. 

Manv cemeteries are very difficult to reach due to seasonal or constant vegetation. 

V 

Though listed as a national cultural monument, the cemetery in Siaulenai, in the 
Radviliskis district, was so overgrown that it was impossible to determine the number of 
stones when visited for the survey. (Today, the cultural monument listing says it is 


23 


fenced, with a gate and marking sign, and has 248 gravestones). The cemetery in 
Liubavas, in the Marijampole district, was vanishing from sight due to similar conditions. 

Stones were also rapidly disappearing in the cemetery in Baisogala, which was partially 
underwater due to a dam. In Dauglaukis, a cemetery in a forest was only recently 
rediscovered. Its borders had still not been identified. It is believed to have been used for 
burials until before World War I, when Jews left the area. (Maceva has since documented 
four gravestones, only one of them legible enough to read the inscription. It was dated 
1783.) 

While the clearing of vegetation is perhaps the most pressing concern for many of these 
cemeteries, more and better signs and fences would also help to identify and protect some 
of the most threatened. 

Many cemeteries have been fenced since the 1990s. Unfortunately, this work was done 
mainly to protect existing gravestones rather than to demark historic boundaries. Many 
cemeteries appear to be relatively well kept, but closer examination reveals that only a 
small portion of the original cemetery is within the enclosed area. Thus, many burials— 
often many hundreds—are unprotected. 

3. Holocaust Sites in Lithuania 

There are a great many Holocaust sites in Lithuania. These include deportation centers, 
ghettos, concentration camps, killing sites, and death camps. Many are not well known. 
Several, however, have been recognized and protected as national memorial sites. 
Foremost among these are Paneriai, where tens of thousands of Jews from Vilnius were 
killed, and the Ninth Fort, which was the death site of people who lived in Kaunas. 

a. Paneriai 

Paneriai (the Ponary Forest, ten kilometers from Vilnius ‘as the crow flies’ but further by 
road) was the site of the massacre of approximately 100,000 people, of whom 70,000 are 
believed to have been people of the Jewish faith. The site is now a memorial park. Since 
1991, a new series of monuments has been erected, replacing wording that previously 
only noted the murder of “Soviet citizens.” There is a small museum run by the Vilna 
Gaon State Jewish Museum. Paths meander through woods leading to sites of pits to 
which victims were herded and executed. The pits were originally intended for oil 
cisterns. After the murders, Jews were brought to the sites to exhume and burn the bodies. 
Eighty Jews managed a dramatic escape during this process. Today, piles of ashes from 
the burned bodies are marked with stones. An annual ceremony is held every September 
23 rd . 

b. Ninth Fort 

Built as a Tsarist defensive bastion, the fort was used as a Lithuanian prison from 1924 to 
1940. In 1940 and 1941, it was under KGB supervision, and it was from here that 


24 


prisoners were taken to Siberia. Then, from 1941 to 1944. the Germans transformed the 
site into a death camp, where at least 20,000 Jews from the Kaunas Ghetto were killed. 

The fort was opened as a museum in 1959. In 1984. a new building was erected as a 
military museum and an imposing memorial was built. The primary' site, however, is the 
fort, which is vast and eerie. It contains several small exhibits. These include exhibits on 
the dramatic escape of 64 prisoners in 1944, the rescue efforts of Chiune and Yukiki 
Sugihara. and the rescue of Jews by Lithuanians. There is also an exhibit on the Kaunas 
Ghetto. 

Just beyond the fort are the killing fields, with an enormous monument. It is adjacent to a 
field where the ashes of the murdered were spread. The original 1984 monument made no 
reference to Jews. Now. there is a new stone monument with texts in Lithuanian. Hebrew, 
English, and Russian that make the Holocaust motivation clear. 

c. Other Holocaust Sites 

There are hundreds of other Holocaust sites in Lithuania, including more than 200 sites of 
mass execution and/or mass graves. Most often, killing sites and mass burial sites are in 
the same place. Often victims were made to dig their own graves. In some cases, people 
who w'ere Jewish were executed in a cemetery and then buried there. Sometimes, the 
bodies of Holocaust victims were moved to the cemetery'. 

Beginning in 1988, with the Lithuanian National Revival, and continuing through the first 
years of independence, people of the Jewish faith began tending the mass-murder sites. In 
1990, the Supreme Council of Lithuania passed a resolution entitled, “Tending to the 
graves and cemeteries of the victims of the Jewish genocide and preserving the Jewish 
heritage." This led to active efforts of Lithuanian Jewish organizations to clean up death 
sites and mass burial sites, and to erect new monuments. 

These monuments, which w r ere erected throughout the 1990s, carry' inscriptions in 
Lithuanian and Yiddish, and provide some information about the Holocaust. In 1998, 
Yosif Levinson, w ho was chairman of the Commission for Maintenance of Jewish 
Cemeteries and Sites of Massacre, and was actively involved in the promulgation of the 
Lithuanian Supreme Council resolution, published a book that includes information on all 
of the sites. Mr. Levinson served as an advisor to the Commission's surv ey. Milda 
Jakulyte-Vasil published an updated “Lithuanian Holocaust Atlas" in 2011 that contains 
information on 227 mass grave sites of Jews killed in the Shoah. 

This report lists all mass burial sites known as of 2004, organized by administrative 
district. (Table VI) 


25 



Pakruojis mass grave memorial 



Eiseskes mass grave memorial 


26 












Ukmerge mass grave memorial 



Vilnius Ghetto monument 


27 












Kaunus Jewish cemetery 


28 















Zezmariai Jewish cemetery 



Valbaninkas Jewish cemetery 


29 



























Rozalimas Jewish cemetery 



Telsiai Jewish cemetery 


30 



Table II: Jewish Cemeteries by District and Local Population as of 
2004 


District (Abbreviation) 

Municipality 

Estimated Population 

[Yiddish NameJ 
(Location) 

General 

Jewish 

Akmene (AK) 

Akmene 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Klykuoliai 

<1,000 

0 

Papile 

1.000-5.000 

0 

Vegeriai 

<1000 

0 

Alytus (AL) 

Alytus (Medziotoju St.) 

25.000-100.000 

0 

Alytus (Smeliu St.) 

25.000-100.000 

0 

Butrimonys 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Daugai 

1.000-5.000 

0 

Miroslavas 

<1000 

0 

Nemunaitis 

<1000 

0 

Anyksciai (AN) 

Anyksciai 

5,000-25.000 

0 

Kovarskas 

1.000-5,000 

0 

Svedasai 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Troskunai 

<1000 

0 

Viesintai 

1.000-5,000 

0 

Birzai (BI) 

Birzai 

5.000-25.000 

0 

Vabalninkai 

5,000-25.000 

0 

Druskininkai (DR) 

Druskininkai 

5.000-25.000 

<10 

Leipalingis 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Ratnicia 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Ignalina (IG) 

Dukstas 

<1000 

0 

Ignalina 

5,000-25.000 

0 

Linkmenys 

<1000 

0 

Jonava (JA) 

Jonava [Januv, Jano 

25,000-100,000 

<10 

Joniskis (JS) 

Joniskis 

5,000-25.000 

<10 

Kriukai 

<1000 

0 

Zagare (Pilkapiai) 

-W-1- i. - 

1.000-5,000 

<10 

Zagare (Ziuriai village) 

1.000-5.000 

<10 

Jubarkas (JU) 

Smalininkai 

<1000 

0 

Veliuona 

<1000 

0 

Erzvilkas 

<1000 

0 

Jurbarkas 

5,000-25.000 

0 

Seredzius 

<1000 

0 

Kaisiadorys (KY) 

Kaisiadorys 

5,000-25,000 

<10 

Kruonis 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Zaslai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Ziezmariai 

1,000-5,000 

0 


31 




















































Estimated Population 


Municipality 


District (Abbreviation) 

[Yiddish Name] 
(Location) 

General 

Jewish 

Kaunas (KA) 

Babtai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Cekiskes 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Garliava 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Kaunas (Aleksotas) in use 
[Kovno] 

>100,000 

1,000- 

0,000 

Kaunas (Panemune, old) 
[Kovnol 

>100,000 

1,000- 

0,000 

Kaunas (Vilijampole) 
[Kovno] 

>100,000 

1,000- 

0,000 

Kaunas (Vilijampole, old) 
[Kovno] 

>100,000 

1,000- 

0,000 

Kaunas (Zaliakalnis) 
[Kovno] 

>100,000 

1,000- 

0,000 

Vandziogala 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Vilkija 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Zapiskes 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Kedainiai (KE) 

Dotnuva 

<1000 

0 

Gelvonai 

<1000 

0 

Josvainiai 

<1000 

1 

0 

Kedainiai (Kanapinskis 

St.) 

25,000-100.000 

0 

Kedainiai (Lakstingalos 

St.) 

25,000-100.000 

0 

Musninkai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Seta 

<1000 

0 

Kelme (KM) 

Kelme 

5,000-25,000 

<10 

Kraziai 

<1000 

0 

Saukenai 

<1000 

0 

Uzvenciai 

<1000 

0 

Klaipeda (KL) 

Gargzdai 

5,000-25.000 

0 

Klaipeda [Memlis] 

>100,000 

10-100 

Veivirzenai 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Kretinga (KR) 

Darbenai 

<1000 

0 

Kretinga 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Salantai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Kupiskis (KP) 

Kupiskis (Taikos St.) 
[Kupisek] 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Kupiskis (Uzkampio St.) 
[Kupisek] 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Skapiskis 

<1000 

0 

Subacius 

1,000-5,000 

0 


32 












































District (Abbreviation) 

Municipality 

Estimated Population 

[Yiddish Name] 
(Location) 

General 

Jewish 

Lazdijai (LA) 

• - 

Kapciamiestis 

<1000 

0 

Lazdijai 

5.000-25.000 

0 

Rudamina 

<1000 

0 

Seirijai 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Veisejai 

1.000-5.000 

0 

Marijampole (MA) 

Kalvarija 

5.000-25.000 

0 

Liubavas 

1.000-5.000 

0 

Liudvinavas 

1.000-5.000 

0 

Marijampole (Sauliu St.) 

25,000-100.000 

<10 

Marijampole (Vokieciu 

St.) 

25.000-100.000 

<10 

Mazeikiai (MZ) 

Laizuva 

1.000-5.000 

0 

Leckava 

1.000-5.000 

0 

Mazeikiai 

25.000-100.000 

0 

Pikeliai 

<1000 

0 

Seda 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Veiksniai 

1.000-5.000 

<10 

Zidikai 

<1000 

0 

Moletai (MO) 

Moletai TMaletai] 

5.000-25.000 

0 

Pakruojis (PK) 

Linksmuciai 

<1000 

0 

Lyuumai 

<1000 

0 

Padubvsis 

<1000 

0 

Paaulianka 

<1000 

0 

Pakruojis 

5,000-25.000 

0 

Pasvintinvs 

<1000 

0 

Zeimelis 

<1000 

0 

Palanga (PL) 

Palanga (Jaunimas Hill) 

5.000-25.000 

<10 

Palanga (Naglis Hill) 

5,000-25.000 

<10 

Panevezys (PN) 

Krekenava 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Naujamiestis 

<1000 

0 

Raguva 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Ramv 2 ala 

* s— 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Pasvalys (PS) 

Joniskelis 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Pasvalys 

5.000-25.000 

<10 

Pumpenai 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Pusalotas 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Vaskai 

5.000-25.000 

0 

Plunge (PU) 

Plunge [Plungen] 

5.000-25.000 

<10 

Prienai (PR) 

Balbieriskis 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Prienai 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Stakliskes 

1,000-5.000 

0 





















































District (Abbreviation) 

Municipality 

Estimated Population 

[Yiddish Name] 
(Location) 

General 

Jewish 

Radviliskis (RA) 

Baisogala 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Grinkiskis 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Radviliskis 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Seduva 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Siaulenai 

<1,000 

0 

Raseiniai (RS) 

Ariogala 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Girkainis 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Nemaksiai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Raseiniai (Muziejaus St.) 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Raseiniai (Vytauto St.) 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Siluva 

1,000-5,000 

<10 

Vidukle 

1,000-5,000 

<10 

Rietavas (RI) 

Rietavas 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Rokiskis (RO) 

Kamajai 

<1000 

0 

Obeliai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Onuskis 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Pandelis 

<1000 

0 

Rokiskis [Rakisek] 

5,000-25,000 

<10 

Suvainiskis 

<1000 

0 

Sakiai (SA) 

Kudirkos Naumiestis 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Sakiai 

5,000-25,000 

<10 

Sudargas 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Salcininkai (SN) 

Deveniskes 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Siauliai (SI) 

Gruzdziai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Kursenai 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Siauliai 

>100,000 

10-100 

Silale (SL) 

Balsiai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Kvedama 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Laukuva (Ausros Street) 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Laukuva (destroyed) 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Silale 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Upyna 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Silute (SU) 

Silute 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Sugintai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Sveksna 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Vainutas 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Zemaiciu Naumiestis 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Skuodas (SK) 

Mosedis (island near) 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Skuodas 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Ylakiai 

1,000-5,000 

0 


34 





















































Estimated Population 


Municipality 


District (Abbreviation) 

[Yiddish Name] 
(Location) 

General 

Jewish 

Svencionys (SV) 

Adutiskiai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Pabrade 

ND 

ND 

Svencioneliai 

5,000-25,000 

<10 

Svencionys 

5,000-25,000 

<10 

Taurage (TA) 

Batakiai 

<1000 

<10 

Dauglaukis 

<1000 

0 

Gaure 

<1000 

0 

Skaudvile 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Taurage 

25,000-100,000 

<10 

Telsiai (TE) 

Luokiai (former market) 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Luokiai (Zemaites St.) 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Telsiai 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Tryskiai 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Vamiai 

1,000-5.000 

<10 

Trakai (TR) 

Aukstadvaris 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Rudiskes 

1,000-5.000 

0 

Trakai 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Vievis 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Ukmerge (UK) 

Ukmerge [AUkmerge , 
Vilkmerge] 

25,000-100,000 

<10 

Zelva 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Utena (UT) 

Kuktiskes 

<1000 

0 

Utena (west) 

25,000-100,000 

0 

Utena (Siliniai Forest) 

25,000-100,000 

0 

Uzpaliai 

<1000 

0 

Vyzuonos 

<1000 

0 

Varena (VA) 

Liskava 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Merkine 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Valkininkai 

<1000 

0 

Varena 

5,000-25.000 

<10 

Vilkaviskis (VK) 

Kybartai [Kybart] 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Pilviskiai [Pilvisak] 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Vilkaviskis [Vilkavisek 

5,000-25.000 

0 

Virbalis [Virbal] 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Vistytis (old cemetery 1) 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Vistytis (old cemetery 2) 

1,000-5,000 

0 


35 
















































Municipality 

Estimated Population 

District (Abbreviation) 

[Yiddish Name] 
(Location) 

General 

Jewish 


Karveliskip (Vilnius) 

>100,000 

100- 

0,000 


Laibiskes 

<1000 

0 


Maisiogala 

5,000-25,000 

0 


Nemencine 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Vilnius (VI) 

Paberze 

5,000-25,000 

0 

Seskine (Vilnius) 

>100,000 

100- 

0,000 


Snipiskes (Vilnius) 

>100,000 

100- 

0,000 


Uzupis (Vilnius) 

>100,000 

1,000- 
0,000 


Antalieptes 

<1000 

0 


Dusetas 

1,000-5,000 

0 

Zarasai (ZA) 

Salakas 

<1000 

0 


Zarasai (Kauno St.) 

5,000-25,000 

<10 


Zarasai (peninsula in lake) 

5,000-25,000 

<10 


36 
























Table III: Signage, Walls, and Gates at Cemeteries 


Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Adutiskiai 

SV 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Akmene 

AK 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Alytus 

(Medziotoju St.) 

AL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Alytus (Smeliu 
St.) 

AL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Antalieptes 

ZA 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Anyksciai 

AN 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Arioaala 

RS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Aukstadvaris 

TR 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Babtai 

KA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Baisiogala 

RA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Balbieriskis 

PR 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish, 

Hebrew 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Balsiai 

SL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge, no hard 
fence, fence of 
vegetation 

No gate 

Batakiai 

TA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry w all 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Birzai 

BI 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish. 

Hebrew; 

memorial 

stone 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

No gate 

Butrimonys 

AL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Cekiskes 

KA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

No gate 

Darbenai 

KR 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Other 

Gate (no lock), no 
wall 

Daugai 

AL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge, or row 
of trees or 
bushes 

No gate 


37 
































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Dauglaukis 

TA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Deveniskes 

SN 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Dotnuva 

KE 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Druskininkai 

DR 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Dukstas 

IG 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Other 

Gate (no lock), 
metal fence 

Dusetas 

ZA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Erzvilkas 

JU 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

No gate 

Gargzdai 

KL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Garliava 

KA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Gaure 

TA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

No gate 

Gelvonai 

KE 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
fence (wire) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Girkainis 

RS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Grinkiskis 

RA 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

Broken fence 

No gate 

Gruzdziai 

SI 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge, or row 
of trees or 
bushes 

No gate 

Ignalina 

IG 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosures 

No gate 

Jonava 

JA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Joniskelis 

PS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 



Joniskis 

JS 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosures 

No gate 

Josvainiai 

KE 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish. 

Hebrew 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Jurbarkas 

JU 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 


38 

































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Kaisiadorys 

KY 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Kalvarija 

MA 

Lithuanian 

and 

Yiddish; 

memorial 

stone 

Yes 

Continuous 
fence (wood) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kamajai 

RO 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Columns 

No gate 

Kapciamiestis 

LA 

None 

NA 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kaunas 

(Aleksotas 

Cemetery) 

KA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kaunas 

(Panemune. old) 

KA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Kaunas 

(Vilijampole) 

KA 

None 

NA 

No gate 
masonry wall 

Gate (locks) 

Kaunas 

(Vilijampole, 

old) 

KA 

None 

NA 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kaunas 

(Zaliakalnis) 

KA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Fence 

Gate 

Kedainiai 

(Kanapinskis 

St.) 

KE 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (locks) 

Kedainiai 

(Lakstingalos 

St.) 

KE 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kelme 

KM 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

Continuous 
fence (wire) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Klaipeda 

KL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Klykuoliai 

AK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kovarskas 

AN 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge 

No gate 

Kraziai 

KM 

Jewish 

symbols 

NA 

No enclosure 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Krekenava 

PN 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 


39 































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Kretinga 

KR 

Memorial 

stone 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Kriukai 

JS 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish, 

Hebrew 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kruonis 

KY 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Kudirkos 

Naumiestis 

SA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kuktiskes 

UT 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kupiskis 
(Taikos St.) 

KP 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

No gate 

Kupiskis 
(Uzkampio St.) 

KP 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Kursenai 

SI 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Kvedama 

SL 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Kybartai 

VK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Laibiskes 

VI 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Laizuva 

MZ 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Laukuva 
(Ausros Street) 

SL 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Laukuva 

(destroyed) 

SL 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Other 

Gate (no lock), 
metal fence 

Lazdijai 

LA 

None 

NA 

Broken 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Leckava 

MZ 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Leipalingis 

DR 

None 

NA 

No wall 

No gate 


40 































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Linkmenys 

IG 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Linksmuciai 

PK 

None 

NA 

Continuous 
fence (wire) 

Gate (locks) 

Liskava 

VA 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Liubavas 

MA 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Liudvinavas 

MA 



No enclosure 

No gate 

Luokiai (former 
market) 

TE 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Luokiai 
(Zemaites St.) 

TE 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Lygumai 

PK 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Water 

No gate 

Maisiogala 

VI 

None 

NA 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Marijampole 
(Sauliu St.) 

MA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Marijampole 
(Vokieciu St.) 

MA 

None 

NA 

Broken fence 

No gate 

Mazeikiai 

MZ 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
fence (wire) 

No gate 

Merkine 

VA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Miroslavas 

AL 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

No gate 

Moletai 

MO 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Mosedis (island 
near) 

SK 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Musninkai 

KE 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Naujamiestis 

PN 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
fence (wire) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Nemaksiai 

RS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
fence (metal) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Nemencine 

VI 

None 

NA 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Nemunaitis 

AL 

None 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 


41 


































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Obeliai 

RO 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Onuskis 

RO 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

No gate 

Paberze 

VI 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish, 

Hebrew 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Pabrade 

SV 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Padubysis 

PK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

No gate 

Pagulianka 

PK 

None 

NA 

Continuous 
fence (wire) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Pakruojis 

PK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Palanga 
(Jaunimas Hill) 

PL 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Palanga (Naglis 
Hill) 

PL 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Pandelis 

RO 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Papile 

AK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Pasvalys 

PS 

None 

NA 



Pasvintinys 

PK 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Pikeliai 

MZ 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Pilviskiai 

VK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

No gate 

Plunge 

PU 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Prienai 

PR 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Pumpenai 

PS 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Other 

No gate 

Pusalotas 

PS 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Radviliskis 

RA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Raguva 

PN 

Memorial 

stone 


No enclosure 

No gate 


42 




































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Ramygala 

PN 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish, 

Hebrew 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Raseiniai 
(Muziejaus St.) 

RS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 



Raseiniai 
(Vytauto St.) 

RS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish. 

Hebrew 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry 7 wall 

No gate 

Ratnicia 

DR 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Rietavas 

RI 

None 

NA 

Broken fence 

No gate 

Rokiskis 

RO 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (locks) 

Rudamina 

LA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry 7 wall 

No gate 

Rudiskes 

TR 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Sakiai 

SA 

None 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Salakas 

ZA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Salantai 

KR 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Saukenai 

KM 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish. 

Hebrew 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Seda 

MZ 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge, or row 
of trees or 
bushes 

No gate 

Seduva 

RA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Seirijai 

LA 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Seredzius 

JU 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish, 

Hebrew 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Seta 

KE 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not lock) 

Siaulenai 

RA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish, 

Hebrew 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

Gate (locks) 

Siauliai 

SI 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Silale 

SL 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 


43 

































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Silute 

SU 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Siluva 

RS 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Skapiskis 

KP 

None 

NA 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Skaudvile 

TA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not lock) 

Skuodas 

SK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Smalininkai 

JU 

Jewish 
symbols on 
gate or wall 


Broken 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not lock) 

Stakliskes 

PR 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Subacius 

KP 

Signage in 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Sudargas 

SA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Sugintai 

SU 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No wall 

No gate 

Suvainiskis 

RO 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Svedasai 

AN 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Sveksna 

SU 

None 

NA 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Svencioneliai 

sv 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

V 

Svencionys 

sv 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No wall 

Gate, (no lock) 

Taurage 

TA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Telsiai 

TE 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Trakai 

TR 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Troskunai 

AN 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish, 

Hebrew 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 


44 

































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Tryskiai 

TE 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not lock) 

Ukmerge 

UK 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Upyna 

SL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Utena (Siliniai 
Forest) 

UT 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge 

No gate 

Utena (west) 

UT 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Uzpaliai 

UT 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not lock) 

Uzvenciai 

KM 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Vabalninkai 

BI 

Jewish 

symbols 


No enclosure 

Gate (does not lock) 

Vainutas 

SU 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No wall 

No gate 

Valkininkai 

VA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Vandziogala 

KA 

None 

NA 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

No gate 

Varena 

VA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Vamiai 

TE 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Vaskai 

PS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge, or row 
of trees or 
bushes 

No gate 

Vegeriai 

AK 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Veiksniai 

MZ 

Lithuanian 

Yes 

Continuous 

fence 

No gate 

Veisejai 

LA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not lock) 

Veivirzenai 

KL 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Veliuona 

JU 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous 
fence (wire) 

No gate 

Vidukle 

RS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Viesintai 

AN 

None 

NA 

Continuous 

fence 

Gate (does not lock) 

Vievis 

TR 

None 

NA 

Broken fence 

No gate 


45 




































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Vilkaviskis 

VK 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge 

No gate 

Vilkija 

KA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Hedge or row of 
trees or bushes 

No gate 

Vilnius 
(Karveliskiu) 

VI 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Vilnius 

(Saltoniskes) 

VI 

None 

NA 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Vilnius 

(Snipiskes) 

VI 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 


No enclosure 

No gate 

Vilnius 

(Uzupis) 

VI 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Virbalis 

VK 

None 

NA 

Continuous fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Vistytis (old 
cemetery 1) 

VK 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

(No gate) 

Vistytis (old 
cemetery 2) 

VK 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

(No gate) 

Vyzuonos 

UT 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Ylakiai 

SK 

None 

NA 

Continuous 
masonry wall 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Zagare 

(Pilkapiai) 

JS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish. 

Hebrew; 

memorial 

stone 

Yes 

Continuous fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Zagare (Ziuriai 
village) 

JS 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Metal fence 

Gate (no lock) 

Zapiskes 

KA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous fence 
(wood) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Zarasai (Kauno 
St.) 

ZA 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

No enclosure 

No gate 

Zarasai 
(peninsula in 
lake) 

ZA 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Zaslai 

KY 

None 

Yes 

Continuous fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Zeimelis 

PK 

Lithuanian, 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken fence 
(wire) 

No gate 


46 
































Municipality 

District 

Signage 

Refers 

to 

Jewish 

People? 

Cemetery 

Enclosure 

Gating 

Zelva 

UK 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Zemaiciu 

Naumiestis 

SU 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous fence 

Gate (does not 
lock) 

Zidikai 

MZ 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Broken masonry 
wall 

No gate 

Ziezmariai 

KY 

Lithuanian. 

Yiddish 

Yes 

Continuous fence 
(wire) 

Gate (does not 
lock) 


47 

















Table IV: Area of Lithuanian Jewish Cemetery Sites and Condition of Stones, by 
Municipality __ 


Municipality 


Cemetery Area 
(in m 2 ) 

Number of Gravestones 

Percent of 

District 

Pre- 

WWII 

Present 

Original 

Location 

Moved 

Total 

blunts 

Damaged 

Adutiskiai 

SV 


9,300 

1-20 

1-20 

1^10 

<25% 

Akmene 

AK 


3,700 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Alytus 

(Medzioto ju St.) 

AL 

5,400 

5,400 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Alytus (Smeliu 

St.) 

AL 


24,000 

20-100 

20-100 

20-200 

50-75% 

Antalieptes 

ZA 


8,200 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Anyksciai 

AN 



20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Ariogala 

RS 


9,100 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Aukstadvaris 

TR 


5,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Babtai 

KA 


13,200 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Baisiogala 

RA 

10,000 

2,700 

20-100 

0 

20-100 

<25% 

Balbieriskis 

PR 



20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Balsiai 

SL 


19,000 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

0 

Batakiai 

TA 


23,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Birzai 

BI 


6,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Butrimonys 

AL 


4,000 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Cekiskes 

KA 


1,680 

1-20 

1-20 

1^10 

50-75% 

Darbenai 

KR 



0 

0 

0 

NA 

Daugai 

AL 


2,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Dauglaukis 

TA 


10,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Deveniskes 

SN 


4,100 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Dotnuva 

KE 

3,200 

3,200 

500-5000 

100-500 

500-5500 

50-75% 

Druskininkai 

DR 

5,000 


20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Dukstas 

IG 


5,100 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Dusetas 

ZA 

820 

820 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Erzvilkas 

JU 


2,400 

20-100 

20-100 

20-200 

50-75% 

Gargzdai 

KL 


16,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Garliava 

KA 


5,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Gaure 

TA 


7,900 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Gelvonai 

KE 


4,300 

0 


0 

NA 

Girkainis 

RS 


9,100 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Grinkiskis 

RA 

5,000 

1,570 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Gruzdziai 

SI 


2,000 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Ignalina 

IG 


800 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

50-75% 

Jonava 

JA 

9,000 

9,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Joniskelis 

PS 



0 

0 

0 

NA 

Joniskis 

JS 


3,500 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Josvainiai 

KE 


25,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

50-75% 


48 



























































Municipality 

District 

Cemetery Area 
(in m 2 ) 

Number of Gravestones 

Percent of 

Stones 

Damaged 

Pre- 

WWII 

Present 

Original 

Location 

Moved 

Total 

Jurbarkas 

JU 


3,200 

1-20 

1-20 

l^to 

<25% 

Kaisiadorvs 

- k _ 

KY 


16.000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Kalvarija 

MA 


7,200 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Kamajai 

RO 


400 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Kapciamiestis 

LA 


1,900 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Kaunas 

(Aleksotas) 

KA 

18.000 

15,000 

— 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Kaunas 

(Panemune, old) 

KA 


4,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Kaunas 

(Yilijampole) 

KA 

3.000 

3.000 

— 

20-100 

0 

20-100 

>75% 

Kaunas 

(Vilijampole, old) 

KA 


35.000 

500-5000 

0 

500-5.000 

>75% 

Kaunas 

(Zaliakalnis) 

KA 


12.800 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Kedainiai 
(Kanapinskis St.) 

KE 


17,900 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Kedainiai 
(Lakstingalos St.) 

KE 


7,200 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Kelme 

KM 


9.800 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Klaipeda 

KL 

6.300 

6,300 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Klvkuoliai 

AK 


5,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Kovarskas 

AN 


110 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Kraziai 

KM 


9,600 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Krekenava 

PN 


20.000 

100-500 

15 

100-520 

<25% 

Kretinga 

KR 


8.100 

1-20 

1-20 

1-10 

<25% 

Kriukai 

JS 


5.900 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Kruonis 

KY 


3,600 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Kudirkos 

Naumiestis 

SA 



1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Kuktiskes 

UT 


12,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Kupiskis (Taikos 
St.) 

KP 


12,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Kupiskis 
(Uzkampio St.) 

KP 


4,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Kursenai 

SI 

13,000 

13.000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Kvedarna 

SL 


3,000 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Kybartai 

VK 


400 

1-20 

1-20 

1-10 

<25% 

Laibiskes 

VI 


1,350 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Laizuva 

MZ 


8,700 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Laukuva (Ausros 

SL 


5,000 

100-500 

d. 100- 

100-1000 

50-75% 


49 


























































Cemetery Area 
(in m 2 ) 

Number of Gravestones 

Percent of 

Municipality 

uistnct 

Pre- 

WWII 

Present 

Original 

Location 

Moved 

Total 

kj(UUv9 

Damaged 

Street) 





500 



Laukuva 

(destroyed) 

SL 


4,600 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Lazdijai 

LA 


15,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Leckava 

MZ 


6,250 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Leipalingis 

DR 


1,440 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Linkmenys 

IG 


5,700 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Linksmuciai 

PK 


11,700 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Liskava 

VA 


2,600 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Liubavas 

MA 


8,000 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Liudvinavas 

MA 



1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Luokiai (former 
market) 

TE 


2,440 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Luokiai 
(Zemaites St.) 

TE 

3,250 

3,250 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

<25% 

Lygumai 

PK 


1,100 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Maisiogala 

VI 


17,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Marijampole 
(Sauliu St.) 

MA 



1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Marijampole 
(Vokieciu St.) 

MA 


5,000 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Mazeikiai 

MZ 


750 

15 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Merkine 

VA 


3,000 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Miroslavas 

AL 


120 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Moletai 

MO 

5,000 

5,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Mosedis (isla 
near) 

SK 


20,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Musninkai 

KE 


1,120 

20-100 

20-100 

20-200 

50-75% 

Naujamiestis 

PN 


3,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Nemaksiai 

RS 

7,000 


0 

0 

0 

NA 

Nemencine 

VI 


17,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

50-75% 

Nemunaitis 

AL 


5,200 

1-20 

1-20 

1^40 

<25% 

Obeliai 

RO 


15,000 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Onuskis 

RO 

15,000 

15,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Paberze 

VI 


6,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Pabrade 

sv 


2,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Padubysis 

PK 


7,500 

20-100 

20-100 

20-200 

50-75% 

Pagulianka 

PK 


20,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

50-75% 

Pakruojis 

PK 

12,000 

12,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Palanga 
(Jaunimas Hill) 

PL 


11,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 


50 


























































Municipality 

District 

Cemetery Area 
(in m 2 ) 

Number of Gravestones 

Percent of 

Pre- 

WWII 

Present 

Original 

Location 

Moved 

Total 

Stones 

Damaged 

Palanga (Naglis 
Hill) 

PL 

4.000 

4.000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Paelis 

RO 


14,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Papile 

AK 


11,500 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Pasvalys 

-L _ 

PS 


1,200 

0 


0 


Pasvintinys 

PK 


240 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Pikeliai 

MZ 


10.500 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Pilviskiai 

VK 


14.000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Plunge 

PU 


2,100 

1-20 

1-20 

1—40 

50-75% 

Prienai 

PR 


5.000 





Pumpenai 

PS 


452 

1-20 

1-20 

1^40 

<25% 

Pusalotas 

PS 

9.885 

9.885 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Radviliskis 

RA 


200 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

50-75% 

Raguva 

PN 


3.000 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Ramygala 

PN 


12.000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Raseiniai 
(Muziejaus St.) 

RS 


4,700 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Raseiniai 
(Vytauto St.) 

RS 


4.600 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Ratnicia 

DR 


2,200 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

50-75% 

Rietavas 

RI 


4.800 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Rokiskis 

RO 

100,000 

100.000 

>5,000 

20-100 

>5.000 

>75% 

Rudamina 

LA 


11.000 

100-500 

0 

100-500 

25-50% 

Rudiskes 

TR 


16.000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Sakiai 

SA 


13.000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Salakas 

ZA 


600 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Salantai 

KR 


3.800 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Saukenai 

KM 


1.900 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

50-75% 

Seda 

MZ 


3,600 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Seduva 

RA 


2,415 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

50-75% 

Seirijai 

LA 


6.000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

<25% 

Seredzius 

JU 


3.900 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Seta 

KE 


18.000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Siaulenai 

RA 

5,000 

5,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Siauliai 

SI 


42.600 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

0 

Silale 

SL 


7.150 

100-500 

0 

100-500 


Silute 

SU 


2,000 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Siluva 

RS 


2.800 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Skapiskis 

KP 


1.800 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Skaudvile 

TA 


10.000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Skuodas 

SK 

1,300 

1,300 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 


51 




























































Municipality 


Cemetery Area 
(in m 2 ) 

Number of Gravestones 

Percent of 

District 

Pre- 

WWII 

Present 

Original 

Location 

Moved 

Total 

kjlUIlvJj 

Damaged 

Smalininkai 

JU 


2,200 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Stakliskes 

PR 


1,800 

1-20 

1-20 

1^10 

<25% 

Subacius 

KP 


1,480 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Sudargas 

SA 


15,000 

500-5,000 

100-500 

500-5,500 

50-75% 

Sugintai 

su 

300,000 

0 


0 

0 

NA 

Suvainiskis 

RO 


6,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Svedasai 

AN 


1,664 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Sveksna 

SU 


8,210 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Svencioneliai 

sv 

43,600 

43,600 

500-5,000 

100-500 

500-5,500 

50-75% 

—^- 

Svencionys 

sv 

15,400 

1,000 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Taurage 

TA 

34,000 

34,000 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Telsiai 

TE 


250 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

0 

Trakai 

TR 

2,100 

2,100 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Troskunai 

AN 


7,000 





Tryskiai 

TE 


6,300 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Ukmerge 

UK 



20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Upyna 

SL 


5,000 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Utena (Siliniai 
Forest) 

UT 


4,020 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

>75% 

Utena (west) 

UT 


6,400 

1-20 

1-20 

1-40 

<25% 

Uzpaliai 

UT 


10,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Uzvenciai 

KM 


4,350 

100-500 

100-500 

100-520 

50-75% 

Vabalninkai 

BI 


10,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Vainutas 

SU 


4,600 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Valkininkai 

VA 


3,900 

1-20 

0 

1-20 

<25% 

Va ziogala 

KA 


23,100 





Varena 

VA 


12,000 

20-100 

20-100 

20-200 

50-75% 

Varniai 

TE 

12,000 

500 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Vaskai 

PS 


1,300 

1-20 

1-20 

1^10 

<25% 

Vegeriai 

AK 


2,600 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Veiksniai 

MZ 


1,300 

0 

0 

0 

NA 

Veisejai 

LA 


20,000 

100-500 

0 

100-500 

50-75% 

Veivirzenai 

KL 



20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Veliuona 

JU 


1,330 

0 

0 

0 

>75% 

Vidukle 

RS 


12,000 

500-5,000 

20-100 

500-5,100 

25-50% 

Viesintai 

AN 


11,500 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

25-50% 

Vie vis 

TR 


10,400 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Vilkaviskis 

VK 


20,000 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

50-75% 

Vilkija 

KA 


20,000 

100-500 

0 

100-500 

NA 

Vilnius 

(Karveliskiij) 

VI 


3,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 


52 





























































Municipality 


Cemetery Area 
(in m 2 ) 

Number of Gravestones 

Percent of 

Stones 

Damaged 

Liisinii 

Pre- 

WWII 

Present 

Original 

Location 

Moved 

Total 

Vilnius (Seskine) 

VI 

12.000 

12,000 

100-500 

100-500 

100-1,000 

50-75% 

Vilnius 

(Snipiskes) 

VI 

23,000 

23,000 

100-500 

100-500 

100-1,000 

50-75% 

Vilnius (Uzupis) 

VI 


10,000 

500-5000 

100-500 

500-5,500 

50-75% 

Virbalis 

VK 


4,400 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Vistvtis (old 
cemetery 1) 

VK 


9,200 

100-500 

1-20 

100-520 

25-50% 

Vistvtis (old 
cemetery 2) 

VK 


6.800 

1-20 

1-20 

1^10 

<25% 

Vvzuonos 

UT 


5,600 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

50-75% 

Ylakiai 

SK 


11,000 

20-100 

20-100 

20-200 

50-75% 

Zagare 

(Pilkapiai) 

JS 


200 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Zapiskes 

KA 


81,000 

500-5.000 

100-500 

500-5,500 

25-50% 

Zarasai (Kauno 

St.) 

ZA 


5,300 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Zarasai 
(peninsula in 
lake) 

ZA 


13,800 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Zaslai 

KY 


15,000 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

25-50% 

Zelva 

UK 


6,000 

100-500 

20-100 

100-600 

50-75% 

Zemaiciu 

Naumiestis 

su 

1,500 

1,500 

20-100 

1-20 

20-120 

<25% 

Zidikai 

MZ 


32,000 

500-5000 

20-100 

500-5100 

50-75% 

Ziezmariai 

KY 


2,400 

20-100 

20-100 

20-200 

25-50% 


53 







































Table V: Ownership and Use of Structures within Lithuanian Jewish Cemetery Sites by 
Municipality _ 


Municipality 

District 

Present Owner 

Current Use 

Adjacent 
Property Use 

Structures 

Adutiskiai 

SV 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Akmene 

AK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Alytus 

(Medziotoju 

St.) 

AL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Alytus (Smeliu 
St.) 

AL 

Municipality 

Commercial; 

storage 

Residential; 

commercial 

None 

Antalieptes 

ZA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 


None 

Anyksciai 

AN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Ariogala 

RS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Aukstadvaris 

TR 

National Jewish 
community 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Babtai 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Baisiogala 

RA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Balbieriskis 

PR 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Balsiai 

SL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Other 

None 

Batakiai 

TA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Birzai 

BI 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

commercial 

None 

Butrimonys 

AL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Cekiskes 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Darbenai 

KR 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Daugai 

AL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Dauglaukis 

TA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Deveniskes 

SN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Dotnuva 

KE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Druskininkai 

DR 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Recreational 

None 

Dukstas 

IG 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Forest 

None 

Dusetas 

ZA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Open field 

None 

Erzvilkas 

JU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Gargzdai 

KL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Garliava 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Gaure 

TA 

Municipality 

Recreational 

Residential 

None 

Gelvonai 

KE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Girkainis 

RS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Grinkiskis 

RA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Gruzdziai 

SI 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Ignalina 

IG 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 


54 
















































Municipality 

District 

Present Owner 

Current Use 

Adjacent 
Property Use 

Structures 

Jonava 

JA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Joniskelis 

PS 

Municipality 

Recreational 

Residential 

None 

Joniskis 

JS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

agricultural 

None 

Josvainiai 

KE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Jurbarkas 

JU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

A well 

Kaisiadorys 

KY 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

agricultural 

None 

Kalvarija 

MA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

Ohel 

Kamajai 

RO 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kapciamiestis 

LA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

agricultural 

None 

Kaunas 

(Aleksotas) 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Commercial 

Pre-burial 
house; ohel 

Kaunas 

(Panemune, 

old) 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kaunas 

(Vilijampole) 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kaunas 

(Vilijampole, 

old) 

KA 

Municipality 

Commercial 

Residential; 
commercial or 
industrial 

None 

Kaunas 

(Zaliakalnis) 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kedainiai 

(Kanapinskis 

St.) 

KE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kedainiai 

(Lakstingalos 

St.) 

KE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kelme 

KM 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Klaipeda 

KL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

Ohel 

Klvkuoliai 

AK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kovarskas 

AN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Fields/woods 

None 

Kraziai 

KM 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Krekenava 

PN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kretinga 

KR 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kriukai 

JS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Kruonis 

KY 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Commercial 

None 

Kudirkos 

Naumiestis 

SA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Kuktiskes 

UT 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Field/woods 

None 


55 













































Municipality 

District 

Present Owner 

Current Use 

Adjacent 
Property Use 

Structures 

Kupiskis 
(Taikos St.) 

KP 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kupiskis 
(Uzkampio St.) 

KP 

Municipality 

Residential 

Residential 

None 

Kursenai 

SI 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Kvedarna 

SL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Kybartai 

VK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 


Laibiskes 

VI 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Laizuva 

MZ 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Field/woods 

None 

Laukuva 
(Ausros St.) 

SL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Laukuva 

(destroyed) 

SL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Field/woods 

None 

Lazdijai 

LA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

agricultural 

None 

Leckava 

MZ 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Field/woods 

None 

Leipalingis 

DR 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

agricultural 

None 

Linkmenys 

IG 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Linksmuciai 

PK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Liskava 

VA 

Municipality 

Waste dumping 

Residential 

None 

Liubavas 

MA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Liudvinavas 

MA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 
and recreational 

Residential 


Luokiai 

(former 

market) 

TE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Luokiai 
(Zemaites St.) 

TE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Lygumai 

PK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Maisiogala 

VI 

National Jewish 
community 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Marijampole 
(Sauliu St.) 

MA 

Municipality 

Recreational 

Residential 


Marijampole 
(Vokieciu St.) 

MA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Park 


Mazeikiai 

MZ 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Woods 

None 

Merkine 

VA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Miroslavas 

AL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Moletai 

MO 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Mosedis (island 

SK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Pond 

None 


56 











































Municipality District Present Owner 


Current Use 


Adjacent 
Property 7 Use 


Structures 


near) 






Musninkai 

KE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Cemeteries 

None 

Naujamiestis 

PN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Other 

None 

Nemaksiai 

RS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Nemencine 

VI 

National Jewish 
community 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Nemunaitis 

AL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Obeliai 

RO 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Onuskis 

RO 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Paberze 

VI 

National Jewish 
community 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Pabrade 

SV 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Padubysis 

PK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery’ 

Agricultural 

None 

Pagulianka 

PK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Pakruojis 

PK 

Municipality 

Recreational area 

Residential 

None 

Palanga 
(Jaunimas Hill) 

PL 

Municipality 

Recreational area 

Residential 

None 

Palanga 
(Naglis Hill) 

PL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Pandelis 

RO 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Papile 

AK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Pasvalys 

PS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Pasvintinvs 

PK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Pikeliai 

MZ 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery’ 

Residential 

None 

Pilviskiai 

VK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery’ 

Commercial 


Plunge 

PU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Prienai 

PR 

Municipality 

Recreational 

Residential 

None 

Pumpenai 

PS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Pusalotas 

PS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Radviliskis 

RA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery’ 

Residential 

None 

Raguva 

PN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Ramygala 

PN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural; 

residential 

None 

Raseiniai 
(Muziejaus St.) 

RS 

Municipality 

Residential 

Residential 


Raseiniai 
(Vytauto St.) 

RS 

Municipality 

Residential 

Residential 


Ratnicia 

DR 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Rietavas 

RI 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Rokiskis 

RO 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

— 

None 

Rudamina 

LA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Rudiskes 

TR 

National Jewish 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 


57 




















































Municipality 


District Present Owner 


Current Use 


Adjacent 
Property Use 


Structures 




community 




Sakiai 

SA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Salakas 

ZA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Field/woods 

None 

Salantai 

KR 

Municipality 

Agricultural area 
(pasture) 

Residential 

None 

Saukenai 

KM 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Seda 

MZ 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Seduva 

RA 

Municipality 

Agricultural area 
(pasture) 

Agricultural 

None 

Seinjai 

LA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

agricultural 

None 

Seredzius 

JU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 


Seta 

KE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Siaulenai 

RA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Siauliai 

SI 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Silale 

SL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Commercial 

None 

Silute 

SU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Siluva 

RS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 


Skapiskis 

KP 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Skaudvile 

TA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Skuodas 

SK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Smalininkai 

JU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 


Stakliskes 

PR 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Subacius 

KP 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Sudargas 

SA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Sugintai 

SU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Suvainiskis 

RO 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Svedasai 

AN 

Municipality 

Closed 

Agricultural 

None 

Sveksna 

SU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Svencioneliai 

sv 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Svencionys 

sv 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Taurage 

TA 

Municipality 

Residential 

Residential 

None 

Telsiai 

TE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Trakai 

TR 

National Jewish 
community 

Jewish cemetery 

Recreational; 

residential 

None 

Troskunai 

AN 

Municipality 

Closed 

Agricultural 

None 

Tryskiai 

TE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Ukmerge 

UK 

Municipality 

Recreational 

Residential 

None 

Upyna 

SL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Utena (Siliniai 
Forest) 

UT 

Private individuals 

Industrial 

Commercial 


Utena (west) 

UT 

Private individuals 

Industrial 

Commercial 

None 

Uzpaliai 

UT 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

None 


58 
























































Municipality 


District Present Owner 


Current Use 


Adjacent 
Property Use 


Structures 






commercial 


Uzvenciai 

KM 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Vabalninkai 

BI 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

commercial 

None 

Vainutas 

SU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Field/woods 

None 

Valkininkai 

VA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

FieldAvoods 

None 

Vandziogala 

KA 

Municipality' 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Agricultural 

None 

Varena 

VA 

Municipality- 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Varniai 

TE 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Residential 

None 

Vaskai 

PS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Residential 

None 

Vegeriai 

AK 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Agricultural 

None 

Veiksniai 

MZ 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Residential 

None 

Veisejai 

LA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Residential; 

commercial 

None 

Veivirzenai 

KL 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Residential 

None 

Veliuona 

JU 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Recreational: 

residential 


Vidukle 

RS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 


Viesintai 

AN 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Field/woods 

None 

Vievis 

TR 

National Jewish 
community 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Highway 

None 

Vilkaviskis 

VK 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Residential 


Vilkija 

KA 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 

Field/woods 

None 

Virbalis 

VK 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Residential 


Vilnius 

(Karveliskiij) 

VI 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 7 

Municipal 

cemetery 

None 

Vilnius 

(Seskine) 

VI 

National Jewish 
community 7 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

Pre-burial 

house 

Vilnius 

(Snipiskes) 

VI 

Municipality 7 

Recreational 

Residential 

None 

Vilnius 

(Uzupis) 

VI 

Municipality 7 

Industrial and 
residential 

Residential; 

commercial 

None 

Vistytis (old 
cemetery 1) 

VK 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 


Vistytis (old 
cemetery 2) 

VK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 


Vyzuonos 

UT 

Municipality 7 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Ylakiai 

SK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Zagare 

(Pilkapiai) 

JS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 


59 












































Municipality 

District 

Present Owner 

Current Use 

Adjacent 
Property Use 

Structures 

Zagare 

(Ziuriai 

village) 

JS 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Commercial 

None 

Zapiskes 

KA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Commercial 

None 

Zarasai 
(Kauno St.) 

ZA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Zarasai 
(peninsula in 
lake) 

ZA 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Zaslai 

KY 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential; 

agricultural 

None 

Zeimelis 

PK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Zelva 

UK 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Zemaiciu 

Naumiestis 

SU 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 

Zidikai 

MZ 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Agricultural 

None 

Ziezmariai 

KY 

Municipality 

Jewish cemetery 

Residential 

None 


60 


























Holocaust Mass Grave Sites 


Akmene district 

1. Siaudine Forest near Dilbyciai village, 8 km from Papile township 

Alytus city 

1. Vidzgiris Forest, Alytus city outskirts 

Alytus district 

1. Klydzionys village 

2. Klesninkai Forest, 3 km from Simnas township 

3. Jewish cemetery in Butrimonys township 


Anyksciai district 

1. Near the road to Skiemoniai village, 1 km from Anyksciai town 

V 

2. Pumpuciai village (on the bank of the Sventoji River) 

3. Individual farms in Kavarskas township 

4. Old Troskunai township Jewish cemetery in Smelyne village 

5. Svedasai township, near the Jewish cemetery 

6. Janoniai village 

Birzai district 

1. Old Jewish cemetery in Birzai town 

2. Astravas Forest near Birzai town 

3. Skamarakai Forest, 1 km from Naujasis Radviliskis township 

Ignalina district 

1. Sungardai Forest, 10 km from Salakas township 

2. Maksimonys village 

3. Dvariskiai Forest 

4. On the bank of Ilgis Lake near Ignalina town 

5. At Meksrinis and Peledinis Lakes 

Jonava district 

1. Giraite Forest, 1.5 km from Jonava town 

Joniskis district 

1. Zagare, park in Joniskis town 

2. Zagare, old Jewish cemetery in Ziuriai village 

3. Vilkiausis Forest, 5 km from Joniskis town 

Jurbarkas district 

1. Jurbarkas Jewish cemetery, Rotuliai village 

2. Kalnenai village, 5 km from Jurbarkas 

3. Forest near the Small Gystas River, 2 km from Veliuona township 

4. Berancyne Forest, 5 km from Jurbarkas 

5. Siline Forest, 1 km from Jurbarkas 


61 


Kaisiadorys district 

1. Strosiunai Forest, 3 km from Ziezmariai township 

2. Vasiljev Ditch, Strosiunai Forest 

3. Gojus Forest, 3 km from Kruonys township 

4. Praveniskes, .5 km from offices of former slave work camp 

Kaunas city 

1. Fourth Fort 

2. Seventh Fort 

3. Ninth Fort 

4. Vytautas Ave., in the yard of the former ‘Lietukis" Garage 

5. Vilijample (monument in the Vilijampole Jewish cemetery) 

6. Kaunas Ghetto in Vilijampole (monument on Minkovskis Str.) 

7. Ghetto hospital on Gostautas St. 

8. Petrasiunai 

Kaunas district 

1. Babtai Forest, 2 km from Babtai village on the bank of the Nevezis River 

2. Barekas Forest, 1 km from Vandziogala township 

3. Pakarkle Forest near Jaciakiai village, 2 km from Vilkija township 

4. Dievogala village, 1 km from Zapyskis township 

5. West part of Zapyskis township 

6. Rinkunai village, 1 km from Garliava township, on the bank of Jesia River 

7. Jagminiskiai village (remains were transferred to Pakarkle Forest near 
Jauciakiai village) 

Kedainiai district 

1. Near airport in Kedainiai town, on the bank of Smilga River 

2. Jubiliejus St. in Kedainiai town 

3. Pestinukai village, 1.5 km from Krakes township 

Kelme district 

1. 2 km from Kelme town 

2. Kurpe forest, 7 km from Krazes township 

3. Medziokalnis, 1 km from Kraziai township 

4. Tytuvenai Forest, 1 km from Tytuvenai township 

5. Pasvile Forest, 3 km from Uzventis township 

6. Zekeliskiai village 

tli v v 

7. Forest at the 6 kilometer of Saukenai-Siauliai Road 

Klaipeda city 

1. Jewish cemetery in Klaipeda city 

Klaipeda district 

1. Klaipeda St., Gargzdai town 

2. Vezaitine Forest (two sites) 

3. Trepkalnis village 


62 



Kretinga district 

1. Jewish cemetery in Kretinga 

2. Pamiske locality. 100 meters from Darbenai township 

3. Baltas Kalnas Forest, 1 km. and separately, 2.5 km from Darbenai 

4. Jewish cemetery in Salantai township 

5. Kvieciai Forest 

6. Top of Alka Hill. 1 km from Dimitravas village 

7. Salynas village 


Kupiskis district 

1. Jewish cemetery in Kupiskis town 

2. Freethinkers' Cemetery 7 in Kupiskis 

3. Ilciunai Forest. 3 km from Subacius village 

Lazdijai district 

1. Near Catholic cemetery 7 in Leipalingis township 

2. Baranciskai Forest. 3 km from Seirijai township, near Sagava Lake 

3. Katkiskes village, 1 km from Lazdijai township 

Marijampole city 

1. Near barracks in Marijampole city 

Marijampole district 

1. Rudziai Forest. 5 km from Marijampole 

2. Sunskai Forest, on the road to Sunskai 

Mazeikiai district 

1. Jewish cemetery in Mazeikiai town 

a/ 

2. Jewish cemetery in Seda township 

Moletai district 

1. Outskirts of Moletai town, near road to Vilnius 

2. Jewish cemetery 7 in Joniskis township 

3. Bank of Arinas Lake in Joniskis 

4. Lakaja Forest (three sites) 

5. Kamarauciznos Forest, 2 km from Giedraiciai township (remains were 
transferred to Jewish cemetery 7 in Vilnius) 

Pakruojis district 

1. Morkakalnis Forest, 3 km from Pakruojis town 

2. Dvariukai Forest, 4 km from Linkuva township 

3. Veseliskiai Forest near Veseliskiai village, 5 km from Linkuva township 

4. Forest near Vileisiai village, 2 km from Zeimelis township 

5. Juknaiciai Forest. 4 km from Lygumai township 

Palanga tow n 

1. Near Birute Hill, on a seashore 

2. Kunigiskiai Forest, 4 km from Palanga 


63 



Panevezys district 

1. Pajuoste Forest, 8 km from Panevezys city 

2. Zalioji Forest, 13 km from Panevezys 

3. On the bank of Small Zenepersa River, 1 km from Krekenava township 

Pasvalys district 

2. Zadeikiai Forest (two sites), 4.5 km from Pasvalys town 

3. Kriausiskiai Forest, near Vaskai township 

4. Sedeikonys Forest, near Pusalotas township 

5. Gruziai Forest, near Vaskai township 

Plunge district 

1. Kausenai village, 4 km from Plunge town 

2. Forest near Milosaiciai village, 6 km from Plunge 

3. Lumalenkai village, 3 km from Plateliai township 

4. The foot of Bokstakalnis Hill, 0.5 km from Plateliai township 

5. Purvaiciai village 

6. Forest near Alsedziai township 

7. Sateikiai Forest, 3 km from Sateikiai township 

8. Viestovenai village, on a Auka Hill, 13 km from Plunge 

9. Jovaisiske village, 2 km from Plunge 

Prienai district 

1. North part of Prienai town 

2. Strazdiskiai village near Jieznas township 

Radviliskis district 

1. Radviliskis Forest, 1 km from Radviliskis town 

2. Liaudiskiai Forest (two sites), 10 km from Seduva township 

V 

3. Forest near Pakuteniai village (two sites), 5 km from Seduva township 

Raseiniai district 

1. The southern valley of Dubysa River, 2 km from Ariogala township 

2. Kurpiskiai village near Girkalnis township 

3. 1.5 km from Nemaksciai township 

4. Near the train station of Vidukle township 

5. Jewish cemetery in Vidukle township 

6. Gravel pit in Ribukai village, 1 km from Lyduvenai township 

7. Kalnujai Hill, 2 km from Kalnujai village 

8. Near Ariogala township 

Rokiskis district 

1. Antanoske village, 5 km from Obeliai township 

2. Velniaduobe Forest, 5 km from Rokiskis town 

Skuodas district 

V 

1. Near the former Sauliai (Shot) Association Hall in Skuodas town 

2. Gravel pit in Kulai village, 1 km from Lyduvenai township 

3. Jewish cemetery in Ylakiai township 

64 


Sakiai district 

1. Baltrusiai village, 5 km from Pilviskis town 

2. Jewish cemetery in Kudirkos Naumiestis town 

3. 2 km from Siaudines village, on the way to Sudargas township 

4. Edge of Baltiskes Forest, 1.5 from Sakiai town 

5. Near Pervazninkai village 

V 

Salcininkai district 

1. Near Catholic cemetery in Eisiskes township 

2. Gomostojiske village, near Eisiskes township 

3. Forest near Gojus village, 2 km from Jasiunai township 

Siauliai district 

1. At Jewish cemetery, 1 km from Gruzdziai township 

2. The foot of Bubiai Hill, 5 km from Kartuvenai township 

3. Kuziai Forest, 15 km from Siauliai city 

4. Gubemija Forest, .5 km from Gruzdziai Road 

5. Padarbiai Forest, 3.5 km from Kursenai township 

6. Ilgoji Lava village 

Silale district 

1. Jewish cemetery in Silale town 

2. Tubiniai Forest near Tubiniai village (two sites) 

3. Jewish cemetery in Upyna township 

Silute district 

1. Siaudvyciai Ravine, 3 km from Zemaicip Naumiestis township 

2. Inkakliai village not far from Sveksna township 

3. Dargiskiai village not far from Vainutas township 

V 

Svencionys district 

1. Former firing ground in Svencioneliai township near Zeimena River 

2. 1 km from Svencioneliai Center, at the road to Svencionys town 

3. Near Cirkliskiai village 

4. Dvariskiai village near Kaltinenai township (three sites) 

5. Didialovkos Forest not far from Pabrade township 

Taurage district 

1. Antsunija village, 6 km from Taurage town 

2. Visbutai village, 1 km from Taurage 

3. Gryblaukis village, 22 km from Taurage 

4. Puzai Forest, 4 km from Skaudvile township 

Telsiai district 

1. Siliskiai village, 3 km from Gadunavas township 

2. Tauciai village, 1 km from Gadunavas township 

3. Forest 2 km from Viesvenai village 

4. Geruliai township, 10 km from Telsiai town 

5. Forest near Geruliai township 


65 


6. Rainai Forest, 5 km from Telsiai 

7. Workshop in Rainiai village 

8. Gudiskiai village 1 km from Luoke township (three sites) 

V 

9. Zarenai township 

10. Tryskiai township, near Small Virvyte River 

Trakai district 

1. Vamikiai village, 3 km from Trakai near lake 

2. Edge of forest near Semeliskes township 

Ukmerge district 

1. Pivonija Forest, 4 km from Ukmerge town 

2. Jewish cemetery in Zelva 

3. Forest 1 km from Siesikai village (remains were transferred to Pivonijos forest) 

Utena district 

1. Rase Forest, 2 km from Utena 

Varena district 

1. Near Jewish cemetery in Merkine (two sites) 

2. Marcinkonys Forest, between Kastinis Lake and train station 

3. Forest 1.5 km from Varena 

Vilkaviskis district 

1. Fields near Virbalis township 

2. Old ravine, 2 km from Kybartai 

3. Execution site, Vilkaviskis town 

4. Paraziunai Forest, 4 km from Kudirkos Naumiestis town 

5. On Ilgasis Hill near Vistycio Laukas village 

6. Klausuciai country-district 

Vilnius city 

1. Paneriai, 10 km from Vilnius city 

2. Subaciaus St. 

Vilnius district 

1. Buzuraistis village 

2. Nemencine Forest, 3 km from Nemencine township 

3. Nemiezele village 

4. Naujaneriai village 

5. Veliucioniai Forest, Grigaiciai country-district 

6. Olka Forest, Paberze country-district 

Zarasai district 

1. Krakyne Forest, Deguciai country-district 


66 


APPENDIX I: CONTACT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS 


Jewish Community Offices and Representatives 

The Jewish Community of Lithuania 
Pylimo st. 4 

01117 Vilnius, Lithuania 
Tel:+370 5 2613 003 
Fax: +370 5 2127 915 
E-mail: info@lzb.lt 
Website: http://www.litjews.org 

Chair: Faina Kukliansky 
Tel: (8 5) 2613 003; 8650 76949 
E-mail: fainakukliansky@takas.lt 

Chabad Lubavich of Lithuania 

Director: Rabbi Sholom B. Krinsky 

Office: A.Gostauto 3-4 

ARP-3 Box 336 2300 Vilnius. Lithuania 

Tel: +370 5 2250 388 

Fax: +370 5 2250 387 

E-mail: office@chabad.osf.lt 

Website: jewishlita.com 

Regional Jewish Communities 

Druskininkai 

Chairperson: M. Vainermanaite 
Address: Vytauto st. 19-15 
Druskininkai, Lithuania 
Tel:+370 313 54 590 

Kaunas 

Chair: Gertsas Zhakas 
Address: Ozeskienes st. 13 
LT-44254 Kaunas 
Tel: 8 686 54585 
E-mail: kzb@pub.vdu.lt 

Klaipeda 

Chair: Feliks Pozemskij, 

Tel.: 8 650 21335 

E-mail: felix.bonasta@yahoo.com 


67 


Panevezys 

Chair: Genadij Kofman 
Address: Ramygalos st. 18 
Panevezys, Lithuania 
Tel: 8 611 20882 
E-mail: genakofman@yahoo.com 
Website: www.jewishpanevezys.lt 

Museums and Other Cultural Institutions 

Valstybinis Vinaiaus Gaono Zydu Muziejus 
(Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum) 

Vilnius Gaon Jewish State Museum 

Naugarduko st. 10/2, LT-01309, Vilnius 

Tel:+370 5 231 2357 

Fax +370 5 231 2358 

E-mail muziejus@jmuseum.lt 

Website: http://www.jmuseum.lt/index.aspx 

Tolerance Center (Branch of The Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum) 

Naugarduko st. 10/2, LT-01309, Vilnius 
Tel:+370 5 212 0112 
Fax +370 5 231 2358 
E-mail: muziejus@jmuseum.lt 
tolerancijos.centras@gmail.com 

The Green House (Holocaust Exhibit) 

Pamenkalnio st. 12, LT-01141, Vilnius 
Tel.: +370 5 262 0730 
Fax: +370 5 212 7083 
E-mail: jewishmuseum@jmuseum.lt 

Paneriai Memorial Museum (Branch of Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum) 

Agrastp st. 15, LT-02243, Vilnius 
Tel: +370 680 81 278; 662 89 575 
E-mail: zigmas.vitkus@outlook.com 

Vilnius Yiddish Institute 

Vilnius University, History Faculty 

Universiteto 7 

Vilnius 01513, Lithuania 

Tel.:+370 5 268 7187 

Fax: +370 5 268 7186 

E-mail: info@judaicvilnius.com 

Web site: www.judaicvilnius.com 


68 


Museum of Zhak Lipshits/Jacques Lipchitz 
(Branch of Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum): 
Note: Museum is currently closed for renovation 

Sv. Jokubo st. 17, LT-66118, Druskininkai 

Tel:+370 5 231 3178 

E-mail: markas.zingeris@jmuseum.lt 


69 


APPENDIX II: SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 


Agranovski, Genrich and Irina Guzenberg, Vilnius: 100 Memorable Sites of Jewish 
History and Culture. Vilna Gaon State Museum. Vilnius, 2006. 

Bubnys, Arunas, The Holocaust in Lithuania. Genocide and Resistance Research Center 
of Lithuania. Vilnius, 2005. 

Center for Jewish Art, “Rediscovering our Heritage in Lithuania,” Newsletter, Center for 
Jewish Art, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9 p. 4-5, (Spring 1994). 

Cohen, Israel, Vilna. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1943 (reprint 1992). 

Cohen-Mushlin, Aliza; Kravtsov, Sergey; Levin, Vladimir; Mickunaite, Giedre; and 
Jurgita Siauciunaite-Verbickiene. Synagogues in Lithuania: A Catalogue , 2 vols. Vilnius: 
Vilnius Academy of Arts Press, 2010/2012 

Drema, Vladas, Dinges Vilnius (Lost Vilnius), Especially p. 196-203, Vilnius, 1991. 

Encyclopedia Judaica, “Vilna;'’ Vol. 16, 138-151, Jerusalem, 1973. 

Greenbaum, Masha, The Jews of Lithuania: A History of a Remarkable Community , p. 
1316-1945, 1995. 

Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel: A Guide to Eastern Europe. Washington, 
D.C., National Geographic, 2007, pp. 65-96. 

Jankeviciene, Alge, Vilnius Didzioji Sinagoga: The Great Synagogue of Vilnius 
Savastis, Vilnius, 1996. 

Jomantas, Alfredas, ed. Jewish Cultural Heritage in Lithuania. Vilnius: Ministry of 
Culture/Versus Aureus, 2006. 

Kahan, Arcadius, “Vilna: The Sociocultural Anatomy of a Jewish Community in Interwar 
Poland,” Arcadius Kahan: Essays in Jewish Social and Economic History, ed. Roger 
Weiss, ed. University of Chicago Press, p. 149-160, Chicago, 1986. 

Kahn, Bruce, “Research and Travel in Suwalki Gubernia Towns,” Landsman, IV 4, 

Spring 1994. p. 10-14. 

Katz, Dovid. Lithuanian Jewish Culture. Vilnius: Baltos lankos: Vilnius 2004. Second 
(updated and revised) edition. Vilnius: Baltos lankos in cooperation with Central 
European University, 2010. 

Katz, Dovid. “The fate of a Vilna Jewish cemetery,” The Times of Israel (May 22, 2013), 
online at: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-fate-of-a-vilna-jewish-cemetery/ 

Kostanian, Rachel, The Jewish State Museum of Lithuania, Vilnius, 1996. 


70 


Kostanian. Rachel, ed., Exhibition Lithuanian Synagogues , Commemorating the 200 ,h 
Anniversary of the Death of the Vilna Gaon. The Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum, 
Vilnius. 1997. 

Levin. Dov. Baltic Jews under the Soviets. Centre for Research & Documentation of 
Eastern European Jewry. Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 1994. 

Levinson. Yosif, Skausmo Knyga/The Book of Sorrow. Vaga Publishers, Vilnius, 1997. 

Magocsi. Paul Robert. Historical Atlas of East Central Europe. Univ. of Washington 
Press. Seattle, 1993. 

Margol. Howard. “Lithuanian Jewish Museum Rises from the Ashes,” Jewish Heritage 
Report , 1999. II: p. 1-2,38-39. 

Mariaschin. Daniel. “Searching for Vilna: Finding hints of renewal in a once-great Jewish 
community,” Jewish Monthly (June-July 1989), p. 18-22, 39. 

Mokotoff. Gary and Sack. Sallyanne. Where Once We Walked: a Guide to the Jewish 
Communities Destroyed in the Holocaust. Teaneck, New Jersey, 1991. 

Oshry. Ephraim, The Annihilation of Lithuanian Jewry. The Judaica Press, Inc., 
Brooklyn, NY. 1995. 

“Progress Report: Restoration Work on Lithuanian Synagogues,” (Nov. 1, 2013). Online 
at: http://www.jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2013/11/01/progress-report-restoration-work- 
on-lithuanian-synagogues/%E2%80%9D 

Ran. Leyzer, Jerusalem of Lithuania: Illustrated and Documented. Jerusalem, 1994. 

Ran, Leyzer. Vilna, Jerusalem of Lithuania. Oxford. Oxford Centre for Postgraduate 
Hebrew Studies, 1987. 

Rhod. Harold and Sallyann Sack. Jewish Vital Records, Revision Lists and other 
Holdings in the Lithuanian Archives , Teaneck, NJ: Avotaynu Inc, 1996. 

Shadevich, Yakov, “New Archival Finds from Lithuania,” Avotaynu, XI:2 (Summer 
1995), p. 10-13. 

Schoenburg, Nancy and Stuart, Lithuanian Jewish Communities. New York & London: 
Garland Publishing, 1991. 

Siauciunaite-Verbickiene, Jurgita and Lempertiene, Larisa (eds.) Jewish Space in Central 
and Eastern Europe: Day-to-Day History. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 
2007. 


71 


Yahadut Lit a Vols 1-4: 


Vol 1: Jews of Lithuania to 1918 , N. Goren, L. Garfunkel, et al., ed. Tel Aviv: Am 
Hasafer, 1959. 

Vol 2: 1918-1941, Hasman, D. Lipec et al., ed. Tel Aviv: The Association of 
Lithuanian Jews in Israel, 1972. 

Vol 3: A: People B: Places, Tel Aviv: The Association of Lithuanian Jews in 
Israel, 1967. 

Vol 4: The Holocaust: 1941-1945, Leib Garfunkel ed. Tel Aviv: The Association 
of Lithuanian Jews in Israel, 1984. 

Zibuts, Isaac, with Dovid Katz and Raimondas Paknys (photographer). Sounds of Silence: 
Traces of Jewish Life in Lithuania. R. Paknio Leidykla, 2009 


72 







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